Over 90% of Shambala’s emissions come from travel & transport, both from our audience and our artists, performers and crew. To help us reduce this, we ask everybody who travels to Shambala to make a donation, to offset these emissions – which we then invest in environmental initiatives.
In 2018, the generous carbon offsetting donations from Shambalans totalled nearly £2,000 – and we decided to allow our donators to vote on exactly where this money will go. We asked them to choose between two very worthwhile projects: tree planting or solar panel installation for schools.
OPTION ONE: Solar for Schools with Energy Revolution
Option one was to donate the fund (with our long term charity partner Energy Revolution) to Solar for Schools. Solar For Schools’ long-term goal is to get solar panels onto every school in the UK! Installing these solar panels would contribute to cutting carbon emissions, enable every school to save money and inspire the next generation to live more sustainably through education about the energy use. Triple win!
OPTION TWO: TREE PLANTING AT THE SHAMBALA COPSE ON THE HILL
Option two was to plant more trees in the Shambala Copse – currently made up of 165 trees that our team planted earlier this year, in the Chew Valley. Read more on the woodland HERE. Back in 2017 when we launched our Bring A Cup campaign, we offered cup-buyers the chance to add a few pounds on to the cost of the cup, to go towards tree-planting. These donations enabled us to plant 165 native trees, to help reforest our countryside. Currently making up the Shambala Copse is a range of Aspen, Alder, Rowan, Silver Birch, Downy Birch, Common Crab Apple, Wild Cherry, Hornbeam, Beech and Bird Cherry. Planting trees is essential if we are to support wildlife, rewild our countryside and combat climate change.
We’re very pleased to announce that, the winner, with 69% of the vote is SOLAR FOR SCHOOLS. 100% of the money raised in the Shambala 2018 carbon travel fund will go towards the installation of solar panels on UK schools. A huge thanks to everyone who voted.
For 2019, to get really serious about offsetting the festival’s travel carbon, we’ll be adding a compulsory donation on to each camper van pass (£3) and each car park pass (£1.50) meaning we’ll be raising more than ever before. We’ll keep you in the loop after the event, on where 2019’s funds will go and the impact it makes.
Love, the Shambala team x