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Introduction

Weather has always played a large part on outdoor events. At least thirty major music events were postponed or cancelled around the world, due to extreme weather in 2023 alone. Two prominent examples include: Pearl Jam’s lead singer Eddie Vadder, damaging his vocal cords in Paris due to wildfire smoke and cancelling three days of shows; and the torrential rain and floods that caused Elton John to cancel his show in Auckland New Zealand. Others in the UK and beyond were also affected by storms, wind, hail, lightning and associated impacts, like event ground conditions deteriorating to an unsuitable level (e.g., the Burning Man Festival). These extreme weather events, as we know, are linked to climate change. Their impacts on the eventgoers, performers and the event industry can create devastating losses. For example, seventeen fans were hospitalised at an Ed Sheeran concert in Pittsburgh USA due to heat, and tragically a fan died of heat exhaustion at a Taylor Swift concert in Rio de Janeiro last November.

The events industry and extreme weather

All outdoor events plan for extreme weather as a matter of ‘good practice’, supported by regulated guidance to ensure adverse weather plans are in place for such eventualities. However, research and experience both suggest that adapting to climate change is still somewhat of a novelty for some in the events industry.

In general, there appears to be a low level of engagement in climate adaptation by the events industry. Research shows that most event organisers only change their plans and take action to adapt after they have experienced an adverse event. However, where adaptation action has led to positive changes in the events industry, research suggests that it happens in three stages.

  1. The first phase is developing an acceptance of conditions and shifting event settings, e.g., awareness or interest after a storm has hit their event or other climate related impacts generate tangible losses.
  2. The second phase is acceptance of action e.g., the requirement to move the event to another month or season in the year, to minimise health risks amongst spectators and avoid damage to equipment.
  3. The third phase is acceptance of use, i.e., the adaptive solutions applied during the second, acceptance of action phase, are no longer an innovation. Instead, they become a standardised model to follow and become embedded in more resilient event risk management cycles.

This three-step process has been visualised in the model below, based on research and thinking by Greis et al. (2021):

            Acceptance Process for Events.jpg

This process provides insight on why, perhaps, the events industry remains more reactive than proactive in their approach to extreme weather and climate change. However, the lived experiences of extreme weather events and other climate impacts are becoming more common. This is fostering the acceptance process and leading to change in both perception and practical plans.

What measures are being put in place to support adaptation action?

Several Local Authorities in the UK now publish advice to event organisers on adverse weather. Some of this information, along with other climate change resources can usually be found on local authority websites. At the national level, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have also published ‘Hot Weather Advice: planning events and mass gatherings’. Beyond events, but of relevance to the industry and wider resilience community is also UKHSA’s Adverse Weather and Health Plan. This was published last year to help protect individuals and communities from the health effects of adverse weather, and to build community resilience.

Conclusion

The events industry at large now needs to learn from recent and increasing experiences of extreme weather in planning and practice. As storms become the ‘norm’, it is likely the acceptance process will progress on a larger scale. To make that learning active now, please see the ‘Make it active box’.

 

Make it Active 

 

  • Consider risks to health in the event risk assessment e.g., heat (heat stroke/ exhaustion)
    or cold (hypothermia) and ways to mitigate and manage these. For example, provide
    adequate drinking water throughout and plan how you would increase shaded areas
  • Check your local authority website for specific advice to event organisers
  • Use and adapt the ‘Acceptance process for events’ – settings, action, acceptance to
    develop adaptation actions and build climate resilience
  • Use advice from local authorities and government departments regarding adverse and extreme weather, incorporating them into your event safety management plans.
  • Use fans views and data regarding their perception of climate change, alongside
    requirements for event risk management processes, to help motivate and progress
    adaptation action.
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Author: Ben Crabb, Crowds and Event Specialist and Resilience Capability Lead, The Emergency Planning College

Article taken from Issue 4 of the UK Resilience Lessons Digest, for all referencing and original article see the Lessons Digest here.

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