Today, June 5th, is “World Environment Day,” an annual international campaign established by the United Nations back in the 1970s in hopes of creating awareness and encourage action towards the protection of earth and the overall environment. Today is also notable for members of the Dave Matthews Band, as the group will be named “Goodwill Ambassadors” for the United Nations Environment Programme.
Related: Dave Matthews Discusses Charitable Work & Retirement Plans On ‘CBS This Morning’
The popular jam-rock band is being welcomed into the U.N. Ambassador family thanks to their work alongside organizations like REVERB in helping establish sustainability initiatives at their performances. Some examples of the way they help the environment while on tour include utilizing locally sourced products during staff/band catering and implementing single-use plastic reduction, composting and recycling.
According to reports, the band’s work has helped to eliminate up to 121 million pounds of CO2 and 478,000 single-use plastic bottles, in addition to collecting an astounding 338,000 gallons of recycling and composted 138,000 pounds of food. The band has also encouraged their loyal fanbase to help raise an impressive $2 million for various environmental causes. It’s too bad today’s digital streaming platforms can’t say the same.
“We wholeheartedly welcome the entertainment industry in joining government, civil society and private sector leaders in the fight for positive climate solutions,” North America’s UN Environment Office Director Barbara Hendrie mentioned of the band’s contributions to environmental awareness in a statement. “Musical artists are in a unique position to use their platforms as performers and public figures to build awareness and engage their fans to take action on a very large scale.”
Dave Matthews Band now joins contemporaries like Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir as recognized ambassadors to the U.N.’s Environment Programme. Wednesday’s honor, however, marks the first time the U.N. has given the recognition to an entire band rather than just one individual.
The recognition comes as the Dave Matthews Band is currently on a break from their ongoing summer tour, which picks up again in a few weeks with two shows at BB&T Pavilion in Camden, NJ on June 14th-15th. For the complete list of tour dates and ticket info, visit the band’s website.
[H/T Billboard]
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