climate
palaver strings sustainability commitment
Palaver Strings is committed to becoming a more environmentally sustainable organization. We strive to educate each other and our Palaver Music Center students about the benefits of reducing consumption.
statement on air travel
The United Nations aviation body projects that airplane CO2 emissions reached over 900 million metric tons in 2018, and that number is expected to triple by 2050. There is a vast imbalance between the carbon footprint for those who can afford to fly and those who cannot (only 6% of the world’s population has flown). For example, taking one flight from London to New York City generates more C02 than citizens in many countries generate per year. The single most impactful decision we can make as a group is to avoid flying.
limit air travel
We pledge to travel by bus, train, and land-based public transit whenever possible. If air travel is required, we pledge to purchase carbon offsets from a certified provider. Carbon offsets try to make up for the share of the CO2 that gets released by reducing CO2 somewhere else in the world instead.
statement on car travel
The transport sector is responsible for 23% of global emissions. Urban transport is the single greatest source and is growing, largely because the use of cars is on the rise. For every one hundred cars being driven to work in the United States today, only five carry another commuter.
ridesharing
We pledge to carpool with other ensemble members to and from all Palaver - related events whenever possible and when COVID safety protocols allow. In addition, we pledge to reduce unnecessary travel by having one-time meetings on Zoom.
statement on sustainable food consumption
The agriculture industry and deforestation are responsible for about a third of the world’s human produced carbon emissions. It takes about 10 pounds of feed to put one pound of red meat on the table, about 4 pounds of feed to put one pound of chicken on the table, and about 2 pounds of feed to put one pound of farm-raised salmon on the table. According to a 2016 study from the University of Oxford, business-as-usual emissions could be reduced by as much as 70% by adopting a vegan diet or by as much as 63% by adopting a vegetarian diet.
eat & buy sustainably
We pledge to eat plant-based group meals with organic, locally-grown food whenever possible. At the Palaver Music Center, we pledge to swap disposable plates, cups, utensils, and paper towels for reusables and offer healthy snacks for our students.
additional sustainability commitments
Merchandise
We pledge to purchase our merchandise from sustainable clothing and apparel companies.
Cup Challenge
We pledge to show up to rehearsals and concerts with liquids only in reusable cups and bottles.
Vote
We pledge to vote in every local election cycle.
Compost & Recycle
We pledge to compost and recycle at all Palaver rehearsals and retreats whenever the infrastructure at our partner sites is available.
climate information
Click here to learn more information about the impacts of Climate Change and ways you can get involved in the climate movement. This document serves as a companion piece to the Coral Suite program, presented in February, 2021.
climate resources
Click here for additional climate resources including climate reports, suggested books and podcasts, organizations to get involved with, and further ways you can make a difference.