our climate commitment
climate statement
land acknowledgment
Palaver Strings and the Palaver Music Center occupy the land of the Wabanaki people, who have for over five hundred years resisted colonialism, enslavement, and the seizure of their territory. While touring, Palaver Strings travels through the unceded lands of many other Native nations. We seek to platform these communities within our mission to strengthen and inspire community through music, and urge our audiences to support and uplift legislation that protects Wabanaki citizens and their environment.
our climate 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.
our pledges
AIR TRAVEL
Limit air travel.
The UN aviation body projects airplane CO₂ emissions exceeded 900 million metric tons in 2018 — expected to triple by 2050. Only 6% of the world's population has ever flown. One flight from London to New York generates more CO₂ than citizens of many countries produce in a full year.
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.
CAR TRAVEL
Rideshare and reduce.
The transport sector is responsible for 23% of global emissions. Urban transport is the single greatest source and is growing. For every 100 cars driven to work in the United States, only 5 carry another commuter.
We pledge to carpool with other ensemble members to and from all Palaver-related events whenever possible, and to reduce unnecessary travel by meeting online when feasible.
FOOD
Eat and buy sustainably.
Agriculture and deforestation account for about a third of human-produced carbon emissions. A vegan diet could reduce business-as-usual emissions by up to 70%; a vegetarian diet, up to 63%. (University of Oxford, 2016)
We pledge to eat plant-based group meals with organic, locally-grown food whenever possible. At the Palaver Music Center, we pledge to swap disposables for reusables and offer healthy snacks for our students.
additional commitments
Merchandise
We purchase our merchandise from sustainable clothing and apparel companies.
Cup Challenge
We show up to rehearsals and concerts with liquids in reusable cups and bottles.
Vote
We commit to participating in local elections and encouraging civic engagement, recognizing that local policies play a crucial role in shaping environmental protections and climate action.
Compost & Recycle
We pledge to compost and recycle whenever possible, including at rehearsal spaces, performance venues, and locations we visit for concerts. We will use Garbage to Garden to compost at the Palaver Music Center.
Artificial Intelligence
We pledge to limit our use of artificial intelligence and other energy-intensive technologies. Large-scale AI systems require significant electricity, water for cooling data centers, and physical infrastructure that contribute to carbon emissions and environmental strain. We commit to using technology thoughtfully, only when it meaningfully serves our mission and cannot be replaced by lower-impact alternatives.
climate impacts
A companion piece to the Coral Suite program, presented in February 2021: the impacts of climate change, and ways you can get involved in the climate movement.
climate resources
Content in development: coming soon
We're working on this section. Our environmental data and curated resources will live here soon.
