The Carbon Footprint

Ilosaarirock has worked for years to diminish the environmental strain that the festival inevitably produces. Unfortunately organising a large festival is not very environmentally friendly as such. That's why we make an effort to protect the environment by minimising the negative effect the festival has on it. This requires knowledge, know-how and above all attitude.

Study on greenhouse emissions

Ilosaarirock has calculated its carbon footprint since 2010. With the indicators it is possible to pin down those areas in the festival production that could be conducted more ecologically. The most important aim of the study is to reduce the emissions of the festival, in other words to shrink the carbon footprint of the festival in the future.

The carbon footprint of Ilosaarirock Festival consists of three parts. The first part is the programme, i.e. the emissions caused by the journeys of the artists, both domestic and cross- border. The second one is the emissions caused by the production of the festival, including technical construction, transportation of goods, electricity consumption, waste management and the production of printed materials. The third part is the emissions caused by the journeys made by the festival audience. In this context, the distances covered were estimated on the basis of an audience survey.

The size of the footprint

The total greenhouse gas emissions by the Ilosaarirock Festival in 2011 were 513 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is almost 18% less than in year 2010, when emissions were 624 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Ilosaarirockin kokonaispäästöt vuonna 2011 olivat 513 tonnia CO₂-ekvivalenttia. Kaikkiaan päästöt tippuivat melkein 18% vuodesta 2010, jolloin ne olivat 624 CO₂-ekvivalenttia.

• The programme: 101 t CO2e, 20% of the total (2010: 106 t)
• The production: 77 t CO2e, 15% of the total (2010: 97 t)
• The audience: 334 t CO2e, 65% of the total (2010: 421 t)

In the programme, the emissions were reduced by 4% compared to the year 2010. In the production the decrease was a staggering 20%, mostly because the cargo and driving done by the festival staff were planned more carefully. Driving and moving around of the festival audience were monitored more closely than before and thus the related figures were more accurate. In light of all this precise data, the emissions were reduced by 20% compared to the year 2010.

Compensation for greenhouse gas emissions

Ilosaarirock is committed to minimize its carbon foorprint and to pay compensation for its greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of the festival is to be carbon neutral and environmentally friendly. However, it isn't possible to make a zero emissions festival. This is why the annual emissions, which will hopefully diminish, are compensated. The compensation price is determined according to the EU emissions trading scheme's prices. The sum is given to an annually chosen nature conservation project.

The projects shortlisted for the compensation are sought in the Northern Karelia area together with UNESCO's North Karelia Biosphere Reserve.

Nature conservation project 2011: Great Crested Newt

The compensation funds of the 2010 festival were donated to the protection of the endangered Great crested newt. The Great crested newt is a salamander that is protected, and only has two populations left in Finland. The newt suffers from climate change a lot, and without active preservation they can become extinct from our country entirely. Protecting the newt also protects certain endangered swamp and forest habitats.

The funds donated by Ilosaarirock were used to build nine new pools, reconstruct two swamps, and deepen some water systems. The new pools are full to the brim with water and offer a safe place for the newt's eggs to develop. Reconstructing pools and swamps also improves the vegetation in these areas.

Nature conservation project 2012: Lake Kuorinka

In 2012, the project to receive the compensaton funds of 2011 festival was the lake named Kuorinka, situated close to Joensuu.

Kuorinka is an important water system in the Natura 2000 program, and a beloved place for north Karelian nature lovers. The lake is affected by eutrophication which is clearly close to its recreation area: reeds are spreading in large areas. There are further signs of eutrophication in other parts of the lake as well. The eutrophication of this naturally clean lake is caused by nutrients that come from outside sources.

With the compensation funds from Ilosaarirock, the lake is going to be reaped of reeds. The aim of the conservation work is to remove excess vegetation and stop the lake from degrading further. At the same time the conservation workers are going to be looking at ways of reducing the amount of extra nutrients in the lake.