介绍： Introduction
When music bands tour, it comes at a cost to the environment. Huge amounts of carbon are generated when the musicians and fans travel the world to attend a gig. But now some bands are trying to develop a blueprint for performers and artists who want to continue what they do but reduce their envir...

介绍： Introduction
When music bands tour, it comes at a cost to the environment. Huge amounts of carbon are generated when the musicians and fans travel the world to attend a gig. But now some bands are trying to develop a blueprint for performers and artists who want to continue what they do but reduce their environmental impact. In 6 Minute English we discuss some of the ideas and teach some useful related vocabulary.
当音乐乐队巡回演出时，会损害到环境。当音乐家和歌迷周游世界参加演唱会会产生大量的碳。但现在一些乐队正试图为那些想继续他们的工作但减少对环境影响的表演者和艺术家制定一个蓝图。

This week's question
One British band recently announced they would stop going on tour until they were 100% carbon neutral, but which band? Was it:
一个英国乐队最近宣布他们将停止巡回演出，直到他们成为100%碳中和，但哪一个乐队？
​
注：碳中和是指企业、团体或个人测算在一定时间内直接或间接产生的温室气体排放总量，通过植树造林、节能减排等形式，以抵消自身产生的二氧化碳排放量，实现二氧化碳“零排放”。
a) The 1975
b) The Rolling Stones, or
c) Coldplay
Listen to the programme to find out the answer.

Vocabulary
1.carbon footprint碳足迹
the amount of carbon dioxide or CO2 released into the atmosphere as a result of your everyday activities.

2.turn down拒绝（某人的提议或请求）
reject or refuse an offer of something

3.a precarious situation不稳定的局面
a situation where things could become difficult or dangerous

4.do the right thing做正确的事情
do what is most fair, ethical or just.

5.gig乐队演奏的现场音乐会
live concert played by a music band

6.the (national) grid全国供电网
the network supplying electrical power across a country

Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.

Rob
And I’m Rob.

Neil
I’ve been reading about ways to protect the environment, Rob, and I’ve decided to eat less meat. And maybe drive my car less too.

Rob
Good for you, Neil! And flying less can also help reduce air pollution.

Neil
Right. Flying and driving less are two good ways to combat climate change because they reduce your carbon footprint – that’s the amount of carbon dioxide or CO2 released into the atmosphere as a result of your everyday activities.

Rob
The idea of reducing carbon emissions is catching on in the music industry too. Bands and artists who go on tour around the world generate large carbon footprints.

Neil
So recently some music groups like Massive Attack and Green Day started thinking about ways to reduce the impact their tours are having on the environment.

Rob
Ha! Green Day – what a good name for a band trying to be environmentally friendly!

Neil
Today we’ll be finding out about bands and musicians who want to continue going on tour but do it in ways which reduce their environmental impact. And of course we’ll be learning some related vocabulary on the way.

Rob
So, it seems like the days of rock and roll stars flying around the world in private jets may soon be a thing of the past.

Neil
Indeed, Rob, and that brings me neatly to my quiz question. One British band recently announced they would stop going on tour until they were 100% carbon neutral, but which band? Was it:
a) The 1975
b) The Rolling Stones, or
c) Coldplay

Rob
Well, Coldplay had a hit with their song The Scientist, and we are talking about carbon dioxide and the climate, so I’ll say c) Coldplay.

Neil
Good thinking, Rob! We’ll find out the answer later. But first let’s hear from another artist concerned about her carbon impact. Fay Milton is the drummer of the band Savages and co-founder of the climate pressure group Music Declares Emergency. She spoke to BBC Radio 4’s programme You & Yours:

Fay Milton
This year I have actually turned down a tour. My income comes from touring so it has put me in a bit of a precarious situation but I actually feel quite good about it – it feels like the right thing to do in this moment.

Neil
Even though Fay earns a living as a drummer by going on tour, she has started to turn them down – meaning to reject or refuse the offer of touring.

Rob
Losing the income she usually gets from touring puts Fay in a precarious situation – a situation where things could become difficult, in this case financially difficult, because she isn’t making money from playing the drums.

Neil
But she still wants to do the right thing – in other words, do what is most fair, ethical and just. For Fay, fighting climate change is even more important than doing what she loves – going on tour with the band.

Rob
Well, good for her! I’m not sure if I’d be so committed as Fay. But if bands stopped touring altogether, fans wouldn’t get to see gigs – or live concerts and hear the music they love.

Neil
Well, that’s an interesting point because it might be possible for bands to carry on touring and also reduce their environmental impact at the same time. Bristol band, Massive Attack, want to do exactly that. Their singer Robert Del Naja explains:

Robert Del Naja
We’re working with an electric bus company. We’re going to look at all the energy being renewable and obviously the power we can create will go back to the grid, so we’re hoping we can actually create legacy green infrastructure which can then power future gigs. We plan to travel to Europe solely by train, with the band, the crewand all the gear.

Rob
Swapping tour planes for trains and encouraging fans to travel to gigs by bus are two good ways to reduce the total carbon footprint of the concert.

Neil
And by using renewable energy, the gig can create power. This can then be put back into the national grid, called the grid for short – the network supplying electrical power across a country.

Rob
Well, Massive Attack are certainly ticking all the green boxes, Neil, but who else is doing a good job? Remember your quiz question earlier?

Neil
Ah, yes. I asked which band has decided to stop touring until their tours were carbon neutral and you said?
Rob
I said c) Coldplay.

Neil
And you were right! Are you a Coldplay fan, Rob? Just remember to leave your car at home the next time you go to their gig!

Rob
Right! Today, we’ve been looking at some of the ways music bands and artists are trying to fight climate change. They want to reduce their carbon footprint – the amount of carbon they release into the air.

Neil
Some musicians are starting to turn down – or refuse, long world tour dates because flying from country to country playing gigs – or live musical concerts, generates so much carbon dioxide.

Rob
Bands like Savages, Green Day and Massive Attack are trying to do the right thing - taking the most fair and ethical course of action, even though for some artists, the income lost from not touring puts them in a precarious – or difficult situation.

Neil
But when they get it right, bands can be carbon neutral or even generate power which can be put back into the national grid – the network supplying electrical power across a country.

Rob
All of which means we can ‘keep on rocking’ into the next century without increasing carbon emissions and adding to climate change.

Neil
So, Rob, you could say you were ‘born to run’… on renewable energy!

Rob
Ha-ha! Very funny, Neil. That’s all for today but remember to join us again soon for more topical discussions and vocabulary from 6 Minute English, here at BBC Learning English.

Neil
Thanks for listening and bye!

Rob
Bye.

Link:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-200402