Music Declares Emergency (MDE), a group dedicated to guiding the music industry’s response to the global climate and ecological emergency, has launched its United States chapter with support from notable musicians who are passionate about the climate crisis.

MDE is a collective of music industry professionals, artists, and organizations that collaborate with grassroots climate partners to shepherd the music industry to make substantive strides towards mitigating human contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Together, the group has collected over 6,000 signatures from across the music industry, supporting a declaration that calls for an immediate governmental response to protect all life on Earth. Declarers worldwide include Annie Lennox, Arcade Fire, Billie Eilish, Bon Iver, Chicano Batman, Major Lazer, Bootsy Collins, The 1975, Fantastic Negrito, Juanes, Massive Attack, Machel Montano, Pretenders, Tegan and Sara, Tom Morello, KT Tunstall, Brian Eno, Tycho, and Tom Odell.

Initially started in the UK in 2019, MDE currently has active chapters in France, Germany, Switzerland, Chile, and Canada; the US is proud to join this global effort. Now, more than ever is the time for the United States to loudly and proactively join the rally to curb and reverse greenhouse gas emissions. The climate crisis is the greatest challenge of our time, and the power of music should take its place at the forefront of this important movement to create a safer, fairer, more sustainable world. The climate crisis is about science, not politics. There is #NOMUSICONADEADPLANET.

This month also saw MDE partnering with the “Resolution Song“ project, bringing together voices from all over the world – ranging from world-famous artists to village singing groups – in a demonstration of global unity and a call for action to protect the planet. For more information, or to learn more about making your own version of “Resolution Song” and share online with the hashtag #planetresolution, please visit planetresolution.com.

“If you’re ever going to get involved in climate action, the time is now,” says Fay Milton of Savages and co-founder of Music Declares Emergency. “In a few years’ time it will be too late. Environmental ‘tipping points’ are very close on the horizon, that’s when the ice melts and no longer reflects the sun’s heat and the earth suddenly starts heating up more quickly, or the permafrost thaws and releases loads of methane into the atmosphere. Once we reach those points, there’s no going back. This is why kids are chaining themselves to buildings and sitting in the road in front of cars, desperate to make people pay attention. It’s really hard to think about this stuff and it’s all just really heartbreaking, but while there is still time, I’m not going to stop trying my best to push for the change we need.”

“This declaration needs to be the moment where music steps up and really pushes the truth to our audiences and confronts governments so that things happen much more quickly,” says Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde.

“I believe in the Power of Music to unite people around this most urgent cause,” says Rich Goldman, President of Riptide Music Group. “Popular recording artists and the music community that supports them have the power to artfully rally their fans and followers around this issue, truly the most important threat to our way of life on Earth. Through their celebrity, voices, performances and events, artists have the unique ability to impact the hearts and minds of music fans. For those of us in the music industry who believe this threat is real and a clear and present danger, it’s time we raise our voices and make some real noise.”

“It’s vital that we back this campaign,” says Mike Smith, Global President, Downtown Music Services. “The threat from climate change is real and we all need to play our part in combating it. We can still do more to reduce our own carbon footprint and use our platform to spread the message that action needs to be taken.”

To sign Music Declares Emergency’s declaration, make a donation, and learn more about the organization, please visit musicdeclares.net/us. Contact MDE at musicdeclaresus@gmail.com.