mobility
DGTL artist travel routes
DGTL's energy flows
Serving as the medium to achieve social and economic objectives, mobility is fundamental to the operation of any urban society. Whether by bike, boat, car, foot, plane, or train, the mobility system makes it possible to reach a desired destination and to deliver essential goods and services from virtually any point in the world to another. Unfortunately for the environment, the majority of mobility functions are energy intensive and often depend on fossil fuels as an energy source. Mobility therefore accounts for almost 25% of Europe’s GHG emission with the most common mode of road transport being responsible for more than 70% of the emissions. Additionally, mobility is a major contributor of air and noise pollution in cities (European Commission, 2016).
Hover over each route to discover the travel mode!
g of CO2 emissions per x passenger per km
In order to provide the exhilarating festival experience their guests expect, DGTL relies on the mobility system for the logistics of almost every aspect of the festival including materials, food, energy, and water. To equip the festival with these essential resources, suppliers often use either car, trailer, lorry, box truck, or delivery van fueled by diesel that emits nitrogen compounds, particulate matter and CO2 to the environment. As the main attraction for any festival, artists come from all over the world to reach the festival terrein Amsterdam. 88% of theses kilometers are traveled by plane which is not only the least efficient transport mode but also one of the most costly to the environment.
Transport energy efficiency (joules per meter passenger)
by travel mode
(more efficient)
(less efficient)
The choice does not lie in whether to be mobile or not. Rather, when offered the choice, one should opt for for the most efficient and least environmentally impactful possible mode of travel. The graphs above show the energy efficiency and grams of CO2 per passenger of different travel modes. Additionally, the map shows the travel routes and modes of the 2019 DGTL Amsterdam lineup. The majority of artists came from a European country (about 90%), however, 88% of the travel was carried out by plane. Needless to say, many of these flights and environmental impacts could have been avoided. For perspective, a round-trip flight from London to Rome generating 234 kg CO2 is as much as an average citizen in Madagascar emits in one year! (The Guardian, 2019).
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For an indepth explaination on how NOx and CO2 emission of mobility is calculated for 2019, click here
To combat the majority of mobility related environmental impacts, DGTL can prioritize bookings of artists who are able and willing to travel intercontinentally by train or bus in order to reduce flight travel. Additionally, it can also help reduce the impact of mobility by doing the following:
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Advocate routing and capacity efficiency to suppliers in order to reduce trips.
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Chose fuel efficient vehicles (pure electric) or more sustainable modes (bike/tram) when possible for travel within the city to and from festival terrain
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Incentivize visitors to choose efficient and environmentally friendly transport options such as carpooling, biking, train, bus or offer initiatives to offset carbon emissions
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