Key information
Request reference number: MGLA030124-3408
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
I see that you report the actual carbon emissions from the fireworks, I would like to know the actual carbon footprint of the display. As the display takes months in the planning, at least a month to design & create, the thousands of people hours (Inc their personal footprint whilst working on the project) including travel, transport, thousands of police hours, transport for 100,000 people, movement of all the equipment (30t +), barges etc. I would think a conservative estimate of 15000kg. Can we see if someone would like to pay the carbon offset please or provide a accurate figure from your own data.
Our response
Environment and sustainability are embedded in the procurement and contracting process for London’s New Year’s Eve event, with an environmental plan to manage key environmental impacts which the event management company consider throughout the planning and delivery process.
City Hall has worked with production partners to reduce the emissions from the display and have made a marked change over the last decade. These practices have meant that this year’s emissions from the display were reduced by 26% since 2016.
As a secondary measure, the contracted fireworks provider has subscribed to an offsetting programme since 2017/18 and pays annually based on the number and size of the displays delivered.
Environmental sustainability data for the wider event operations is still being gathered.