Julie's Bicycle - working for a low carbon creative economy

Global Reporting Initiative and Julie’s Bicycle Publish New Reporting Guide for the Events Industry

Concerts, festivals and other cultural events can now be more transparent about their sustainability performance, thanks to new guidance published yesterday (Tuesday 24 January 2012) by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Julie’s Bicycle helped developed the guidance, particularly from the perspective of the arts and creative industries, as part of an international, multi-stakeholder working group and a series of consultations with the public. The new Event Organizers Sector Supplement (EOSS) provides tailored guidance for the events sector on reporting their sustainability performance.

Observer Ethical Awards 2012 launched with new Arts & Culture category

Yesterday saw the launch of the 2012 Observer Ethical Awards in association with Ecover, now in their seventh successive year of celebrating the projects, people and ideas that make sustainable change possible.

Four industry-leading companies join JB

Julie’s Bicycle is pleased to announce that four industry-leading companies from the live events, outdoor arts and music industries have become Julie’s Bicycle Associates, committing to greening their businesses and events: AEG Live, Kilimanjaro Live, NEC Group and Artichoke.

Shambala Festival wins The Greener Festival Award and director Chris Johnson launches the Green Festival Forum

Shambala Festival today won the Greener Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards 2011, and Shambala director Chris Johnson took the opportunity to launch the Green Festival Forum, an initiative that he will be coordinating in partnership with the Power Providers Forum Steering Group, which includes Julie’s Bicycle, Kambe Events Ltd., A Greener Festival, AIF, Firefly Solar and Glastonbury Festival.

Press Release: Research findings show energy consumed by UK festival sector could power ten thousand homes

Headline research findings published today in the UK Festival Report maps out the uptake of biodiesel and renewable power across the UK festival sector, providing recommendations for increasing demand towards a low carbon future for the creative industries.

46 Festival win Greener Festival Award

46 festivals across the UK, Europe, Australia and North America have been awarded a Greener Festival Award for their efforts in reducing their environmental impacts in 2011. The Awards are made by environmental campaign and advice group A Greener Festival and organisers said they were extremely pleased with the results which took place against “very difficult financial pressures in some parts of the festivals sector” and “challenging summer weather” in both hemispheres.

International Green Theatre Alliance Launched

A new International Green Theatre Alliance (IGTA) has been launched at this year's LDI show in Orlando, Florida. The IGTA formalises the growing partnership between Julie's Bicycle (UK), which works on environmental sustainability across the creative industries in the UK, and the Broadway Green Alliance (USA), which works with the US theatre community and its patrons to adopt environmentally preferable practices. 

JB Board Member to meet with the Dalai Lama

Professor Diana Liverman, JB board member and co-director of the Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona, is among a small group of scientists, theologians and ethicists who will meet with the Dalai Lama and his advisors in Dharamsala, India, during a conference on the interconnection between environmental change, ethics and individual choices.

The COAL Prize 2012 opens call to artists for "Rural" entries

The COAL Prize for Art & Environment is awarded each year to a contemporary artist for work focusing on the environment. In 2012, the Prize will award entries that focus on rural issues and agriculture.

HARMAN's Soundcraft Studer Teams With Julie’s Bicycle To Gear Towards A Greener Industry

Soundcraft Studer recently became the first technology manufacturer to become a Julie's Bicycle Associate member and undergo an Industry Green certification for its Potters Bar facility.

Press Release: Better Batteries Campaign Launch

A UK-wide Julie's Bicycle campaign launched today at PLASA 2011 working with the music and theatre industries to switch to using rechargeable battery systems and increase battery recycling for disposable and rechargeables. 

The Ashden Awards 2012: Call for entries

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are now accepting applications for the 2012 awards ceremony.

Emergence: A new publication on sustainability and the arts

A new English/Welsh bilingual publication has been released comprising pieces from leading figures in the arts and sustainability, providing visionary ideas, practical advice and useful resources around the role of the arts as a key player in creating a low carbon future for Wales.

A Tribute to John Northcote (CEO, Academy Music Group) 1948-2011

A tribute to John Northcote, Chief Operating Officer of the Academy Music Group, who passed away on Wednesday 10th August 2011 at the age of 62. We hope that the legacy of John's visionary work with AMG will continue for many years to come, and our thoughts are with his wife Sanae and their children. 

GDS design first dimmable LED light fitting: ArcSystem wins ABTT's Lighting Products of the Year

Product manufacturer GDS has developed a new LED house-light system named ArcSystem, the first fully dimmable LED unit with a warm white tungsten colour output, which was awarded this year's Lighting Product of the Year by ABTT.

Europe’s First Green Mobility Guide for the Performing Arts Launches Today

Today sees the online launch of Europe’s first Green Mobility Guide for the Performing Arts, providing environmental guidance for touring European theatre companies and venues. Authored by Julie’s Bicycle and commissioned by On the Move, the online resource for cultural mobility in Europe.

Julie's Bicycle Chairman honoured in Queen's Birthday Honours List 2011

Tony Wadsworth, Chairman of The BPI and Julie's Bicycle, was awarded the CBE as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours List on 11 June 2011 in recognition of his services to the UK music industry.

Press Release: IG and 10:10 Festivals in 2011

Julie's Bicycle and 10:10 report back on the progress from their campaign which brought 10 of the UK's major festivals together to reduce emissions by 10% in 2010. 

Julie's Bicycle Green Studio Survey Results

A survey of 20 studio spaces across the UK shows that environmental concern is increasingly becoming a music business priority.

Press Release: Julie’s Bicycle Research Predicts Carbon Savings of Over £35 Million

JB's latest research predicts that the creative industries can conservatively make £35 million worth of savings between 2011 and 2015 by reducing energy use by around 8% – 10% year on year. £8 million of these savings relate to theatre alone.

PRESS RELEASE: Premises Studios win first Julie’s Bicycle Green Business Award

The solar-powered, Hackney-based Premises Studios was last night the recipient of the inaugural Julie’s Bicycle Green Business Award, presented at the Music Week Awards at the Roundhouse, London.

Press Release: Call to theatres to join in the DEC Pool and Green Database Survey

The Theatres Trust and Julie's Bicycle have joined together to undertake a comprehensive survey of environmental and sustainability issues facing performing arts venues in the UK.

Industry Green sets sail with triple-round-the-world sailor, Conrad Humphreys

JB's Industry Green (IG) mark sets sail with triple-round-the-world sailor, Conrad Humphreys, in endorsement of DMS's Pack It In! campaign, raising awareness of the impacts of plastic waste on the world's marine environment and encouraging the music industry to join them in reducing plastic CD and DVD packaging products and become environmentally engaged.

Stage exclusive: Going green could save theatres £8m

An exclusive article published in today's Stage magazine reveals some motivating stats that we have been working on over the last few months. Julie's Bicycle can now reveal that savings worth £35 million can be made by the theatre, music and visual arts sectors if each sector reduces their energy use by 25% over the next four years.

Press Release: Julie’s Bicycle Announce New Industry Green Awards

JB are pleased to announce the award of the prestigious Industry Green (IG) certificates to fourteen music festivals across the UK: Big Chill, Glastonbury, Grass Roots, Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Isle of Wight, Latitude, Leeds, Lovebox, Reading, Shambala, Sonisphere, T in the Park, Truck and Wood. 

JB Helen Heathfield to present at Green Events & Innovations 2011

Julie's Bicycle's Helen Heathfield will present at the 2011 Green Events & Innovations Conference, at Buckinghamshire New University on Wednesday April 20th.

We have moved!

After two fantastic years with Festival Republic, Julie's Bicycle has moved to an exciting new home with the Bush Theatre! Here are our new contact details...

JB Board member Ben Challis at the Federation of Music Festivals in Belgium

Julies Bicycle board member Ben Challis has been out and about in Europe lately speaking and providing leadership on sustainablility at festivals.

Press Release: Julie’s Bicycle to Host Key Panel at ILMC

Top Industry Executives Will be ‘Clearing the Air’ at Live Music Summit for the ILMC's green panel, taking place at 10am on Saturday 11th March at the Royal Gardens Hotel in Kensington, London, moderated by BPI Chairman Tony Wadsworth who is also the Chairman of Julie’s bicycle.

JB Board Member Ben Challis in Budapest to talk on Sustainable Development in the Arts

March the 3rd will see the launch of the new book New Ways and New Trends in Arts Management with an international conference in Budapest, Hungary on arts management. JB Board Member Ben Challis has authored a chapter in the publication, and will be a keynote speaker the conference on 'Sustainable Development in the Arts'.

Press release: Julie's Bicycle Announce New Industry Green Awards

Julie’s Bicycle has announced the award of their prestigious Industry Green (IG) certificates to seven major UK music venues: Wembley Arena, Capital FM Arena Nottingham, Wembley Stadium, Cardiff International Arena, Motorpoint Arena Sheffield, O2 Apollo Manchester and Southampton Guildhall.

Music Week Awards 2011 Extend Entry Deadline

Music Week Awards 2011 have extended the deadline for all award entries until 4 March 2011!

CALL FOR TOURING COMPANIES: GREEN RIDER PILOT PROGRAMME

At the TMA Touring Symposium in 2010 Julie’s Bicycle contributed to the ‘Towards more Sustainable Touring’ session and in June 2010 went on to publish Moving Arts: Managing the Carbon Impacts of our Touring. One of the key recommendations was the development of a green rider for use by touring companies, and Julie's Bicycle are now seeking companies interested in piloting the rider. 

JB & On The Move collaboration - call for information

Julie’s Bicycle has been commissioned by On The Move to create a guide for the environmentally sustainable movement of performing arts and artists in Europe. This upcoming Guide will profile the current attitudes and practices of European touring companies/artists/shows and venues, and we would love to hear contributions from you to compile these case studies...

Julie's Bicycle Green Business Award at Music Week Awards 2011

Julie's Bicycle and Music Week have announced the launch of The Julies Bicycle Green Business Award in recognition of environmental achievements made by companies working in the UK music industry. Applications are now open and the award will be announced at the Music Week Awards, 24th May, at the Roundhouse in London. 

JB and the London Theatre Consortium launch new sustainability programme

The London Theatre Consortium has launched a new sustainability programme in partnership with Julie's Bicycle.

NEW RESEARCH SHOWS ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF SWITCHING TO DIGITAL PROMO RELEASES

Switching to digital delivery of music promotional releases across the independent music sector would save 1,525 tonnes of CO₂ annually – a reduction of 86% - new research conducted by Julie’s Bicycle on behalf of AIM and BPI has revealed.

JB begins partnership with IETM and the Australia Council on three-year project

Julie's Bicycle is delighted to be working with the 'IETM-Australia Council for the Arts Collaboration Project 2010/2011.' Drawing on the research findings from our Moving Arts touring reports, we have developed a programme of practical support for the project's green principles. 

Green Visual Arts Guide launched at Frieze Art Fair

Today saw the launch of the Green Visual Arts Guide at Frieze Art Fair. The guide was official launched by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, Matthew Slotover, Co-director of Frieze Art Fair, and Sir Nick Serota, Director of Tate. 

Download the Green Visual Arts Guide

IG Tools are Relaunched

We’ve given our Industry Green tools a face lift!

The online framework now has a new and improved user interface, allowing for simpler data entries with comprehensive help functionalities... log in and check it out!

Record number of festivals earn the Greener Festival Award

Twenty three UK and European festivals have been named by independent environmental campaign group A Greener Festival as the first summer winners of the prestigious Greener Festival Award 2010.

The Jellyfish Theatre opens in London

The Oikos Project's Jellyfish Theatre opens its doors today, which along with the rest of the building are made from entirely recycled and reclaimed materials. 

Edinburgh Fringe Show a Hit!

Julie's Bicycle wishes to congratulate Leicester Comedy Festival's 'Comedy in the Dark' show on their success at the Edinburgh Fringe. 

GLP aids Julie's Bicycle touring research

Lighting manufacturer GLP is one of the founding contributors to our new research paper Moving Arts: Managing the carbon impacts of our touring.

Julie's Bicycle goes to Lovebox

The sun shone down upon Victoria Park last weekend, energising thousands of party-goers that had flocked to Lovebox for great acts including Roxy Music, Dizzee Rascal and Grace Jones.

JB helps cut promo waste

AIM and the BPI have joined together to commission research by Julie's Bicycle into the carbon impact of a switch to digital promo delivery by the independent sector.

"The Naked Scientists" BBC interview

Our head of energy and environment Helen Heathfield is interviewed about Glastonbury's environmental credentials, for a BBC Radio East "Naked Scientists" programme.

Moving Orchestras

The BBC asks "How do you move an orchestra?"

KOKO wins Environmental Excellence in Camden Organisations (EECO)

Legendary music venue KOKO has won the award for Environmental Excellence in Camden Organisations (EECO) 2010 for Innovation in Waste Management and Recycling.

ABO: Response to Julie’s Bicycle research on sustainable touring

A press release from the Association of British Orchestras about the launch of our Moving Arts research on July 3rd

Orchestras Touring Report Launched at Royal Festival hall

Julie's Bicycle launched its report investigating the carbon impacts of UK orchestras touring on July 3rd -  a beautiful summer's night during the Science + Art Festival at the Southbank Centre.

The LIFT Debates: Climate for Theatre - Thurs 8th July

As theatre makers struggle to create the iconic work about climate change, should they borrow the models of local activism practiced by the anti-globalisation movement? This event, promoted by our friends at LIFT, will explore this and many other questions looking into the role of theatre and sustainability.

UK wide theatre programme launches

Julie’s Bicycle has launched a new UK wide theatre programme to support the theatre industry to improve its environmental sustainability and adapt to a low carbon economy.

UK performing arts industry commits to working towards greener tours.

Julie’s Bicycle launched the most definitive study on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impacts of international touring on June 17th at Royal Albert Hall - setting the scene for a change in the way bands, orchestras and theatre tour by putting the environment at the heart of the action.

Latitude gets on its bike

Latitude festival is raising awareness of audience travel impacts by offering festival-goers the chance to win their very own Latitude single-speed bike from 14BikeCo, the cyclist’s bike shop of choice.

Great Big Green Ideas Winners Announced!

The winners of the Great Big Green Idea co-ordinated by AGreenerFestival.com have been announced!

Julie's Bicycle - Moving the Arts

Julie's Bicycle launches its latest, three-volume research project "Moving Arts: Managing the carbon impacts of our touring"  at three key events this summer.

Eight Australian Festivals Win Greener Festival Awards

A record breaking eight Australian FestIvals have been annonced as the first winners of the 2010 Greener Festival Awards 2010 – topped by Peats Ridge Festival whose team win campaign and advice group AGreenerfestival's Outstanding Award for 2010. Thanks to our friends at AGreenerFestival.com for this press release!

Green News and Ideas from Smeasure

Guerrilla gardening and the pimp your pavement campaign, Unlocking the potential of buildings to slash our carbon emissions & BusinessGreen.com launches green training service

Green News and Idea from Smeasure

A video on how the new Government should boost the green economy, could CO2 be the the green fuel powering cars of the future? Plus, news of Base London event and Friends of the Earth photo competition

Great Escape CD's awarded the Industry Green Mark

Plymouth based Disc Manufacturing Services have produced CD’s to be distributed at the Great Escape for the Bristol Music Foundation, Generator and AGreenerFestival.

Both the Crushing the Great North South Divide CD and A Greener Festival’s Festivals Harvest CD have been produced by Disc Manufacturing Services (DMS) in 100% card packaging that has been certified for the Industry Green (ig) mark by Julie's Bicycle, the cross music industry initiative on climate change set up to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

Green News and Ideas from Smeasure

Green quiz, crowed-sourced energy, Goldman environmental prize and what links the banking crisis and the volcano?

Green News and Ideas from Smeasure

Ask the minister, Hotel offers & Cycle for your supper deal, plus Legoland endangered species exhibition - slideshow.

Green News and Ideas from Smeasure

Cool wings and the lighter and later campaign!

Green News and Ideas from Smeasure

Smeasure makeove, Earth Hour 2010, What does sustainabiltiy look like? and Green PC, Very Pc

A much needed Tools Guide is on its way

Julie's Bicycle has been commissioned by the Arts Council to produce a Guide to Tools and Methodologies. Aimed at those who run arts and creative industries organisations the guide will provide a simple overview of available tools and methodologies for improving environmental sustainability as well as straightforward advice on getting started. The guide will be available online in June 2010.

Jay Griffiths writes on Culture Change and Long Horizons

The Ecologist provides an article about Culture Change, written by Jay Griffiths, and highlights the Long Horizons document.

Green News and Idea from Smeasure

Visit green street! Las Vegas casino turning green & Supermarket bees

Creative Futures Launch - March 4th 2010 - 6-8pm

On Thursday 4th March 2010, six of London’s most dynamic and forward-thinking organisations launch Creative Futures, a £1 million programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund to support peer-to-peer innovation and sustainable growth amongst London-based creative businesses.

British Council and Julie's Bicycle launch Long Horizons

On Monday February 15, Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, will today launch Long Horizons, a series of essays debating the impact of climate change on the work of policy makers, scientists and artists at an event hosted by the British Council and Julie’s Bicycle.

The collection will be launched on Monday February 15th. Antony Gormle''s essay appears in The Guardian's Review on Saturday February 13th.

AGF: Öya Festival tops the green list at the European Festivals Awards

A Greener Festival update! The Öya Festival in Norway has won the prestigious overall Green n Clean Award at the European Festival Awards which took place last night (January 13th) at Eurosonic Noorderslag convention in Gronigen in the Netherlands. The Award is one of a handful awarded by an expert judging panel, with most other awards up for audience members to vote for. The Awards were organised by our friends at www.virtualfestivals.com and the European festival organisers association, Yourope, along with Eurosonic Noorderslag.

AGI given Industry Green certification for CD packaging

AGI, a leading supplier of packaging and creative services to the music and home entertainment industries, has successfully received Industry Green certification for an audio Digipak^® and a Softpak produced at AGI Van de Steeg in the Netherlands. The packs were assessed by Julie’s Bicycle, a non-profit company helping the music industry cut its greenhouse gas emissions and verified by the The Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University. Both products are confirmed compliant with the current criteria for Industry Green Category 1 for CD packaging.  

Green News & Ideas

This bundle of green news and ideas is shared with us by the team at imeasure and smeasure: free online tools that help you monitor and target emissions reductions at home and at work, every week!

Creative Futures

Read about the ERDF funded programme 'Creative Futures' that JB is a part of. 

Industry Green for CD Packaging

We've been busy certifying the majority of suppliers of card-based CD packaging to the industry, find out who has used the ig mark on their album.

Greening Theatres

Julie’s Bicycle is pleased to be expanding its remit to include theatre from 2010. We will be managing the national rollout of Greening Theatres, originally set up by the Mayor of London and incubated by Arcola Theatre.

Where Environment Meets Art, Culture and Rock ‘n Roll

Check out this article on Diana Liverman by Stephanie Doster from the Institute of the Environment at the University of Arizona. Diana is the Director of Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute as well as sitting on the board at JB.

2-4-1 Julie's Bicycle offer: The Bush Theatre presents a reading of 'The Contingency Plan'

To mark the UN Copenhagen Climate Change conference the Bush Theatre is pleased to announce a reading of the five star THE CONTINGENCY PLAN featuring the original cast, and Julie's Bicycle members get a 2-4-1 discount!

Green news and ideas

This bundle of green news and ideas is shared with us by the team at imeasure and smeasure: free online tools that help you monitor and target emissions reductions at home and at work, every week!

Follow Copenhagen on our recommended blogs

Green leaning websites and message boards will be all aflutter with activity for the next few weeks. Check out our cycle diaries here on our website, but we also recommend our research partner the Environmental Change Institute's blog.

Andy Cato of Groove Armada is blogging for the duration of the climate change conference. Andy recently released a booklet called a 'Condensed Version of Climate Change' and speaks perceptively about the way artists come under fire for speaking out about climate change.

For a little light relief with your daily updates, check out lowcarbonara which describes all the negotiating parties as Mr Men characters. Guess who is Mr Nosey, Miss Fickle and Mr Perfect....

Festivals keep up green efforts despite the recession

Festivals keep up green efforts despite the recession - A press release from our friends at A Greener Festival.
 
New research from environmental advice and campaign group A Greener Festival shows that music festivals have kept up their environmental efforts, despite slower tickets sales at some events and the economic recession.

Digital music and carbon impacts

Our latest paper "The Carbon Impacts of Recorded Music Products in a Time of Transition" is a position piece in response to the small number of research documents, including our own, that examine energy use and carbon reduction associated with recorded music, with an emphasis on digital. It specifically recommends some further research into downloading and streaming. While this piece is focused on music it does have relevance for a much wider creative community.

Lovebox and Bestival sign up to 10:10 Carbon Pledge

In an article published in the Observer (25/10/09) Lovebox and Bestival promise to join the 10:10 climate change campaign, agreeing to cut their carbon emissions by 10%.

IQ European Festival Report "Green Shoots" Article

IQ Magazine (Q4, 2009) releases double spread article written by Claire O'Neill (Association of Independent Festivals) showing the environmental credentials of festivals including findings from a new survey looking at festival goers attitudes to festivals and climate change.

The Arts and Climate Change

JB has been commissioned by the British Council to pull together a series of essays on climate change and the arts. Gathering new writing from a range of contributors including a scientist, sculptor, writer and musician, the piece asks what role the artist should take in engaging with climate change, their audiences, and policy-makers. It will be launched  in February 2010.

JB Survey - notification regarding NME prize draw

Due to a technical error Julie’s Bicycle has not been able to track the identity of entrants completing our survey about "music and the environment" recently promoted by NME. If you completed the survey and would like to be entered into the prize draw for a year’s subscription to the NME please email info@juliesbicycle.com by August 31st 2009, answering the following eligibility question: “what issue to do with “music and the environment” did the survey focus on?” For prize draw terms and conditions please click 'read more'. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to survey participants.

The Music Void interview Alison Tickell

The Music Void's Jakomi Mathews caught up with Alison at this year's The Great Escape in Brighton, watch the interview here.

First Greener Festival Awards announced for 2009

Seven English festivals, one Scottish, one Italian, two American and five Australian events are the first recipients of the coveted 2009 Greener Festival Award, acknowledging the events' efforts to reduce their environmental impact.

Julie's Bicycle wins a 'Big Green Challenge Plus' grant

Julie's Bicyle is one of seventeen community projects that have been granted up to £20,000 in funding to reduce carbon emissions and develop clean, local energy sources under a new partnership between the Department of Energy and Climate Change and NESTA.

At height of summer festival season, UK music gets a green boost

Julie’s Bicycle, the organisation that helps the music industry to reduce its carbon emissions, has launched an online tool to help festivals measure, analyse, report and act on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as part of their post-event review.

Ben Bradshaw: Working for the weekend

The UK's new Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw's first major article aimed at the music industry was published this week in the trade magazine Music Week. The former Environment Minister commended the industry for working to reduce its environmental impacts, highlighting in particular those companies piloting Julie's Bicycle's 'Industry Green' scheme.

Can artists save the world?

Julie's Bicycle Director Alison Tickell is christened 'the pop avenger' alongside architects, film makers, theatre managers and visual artists in a Guardian G2 article discussing how 'the greening of the arts is as much about the medium as the message'.

Liftshare’s FestivalBUDI grows in popularity

As the music industry commits to making festivals increasingly environmentally-friendly, more festival-goers than ever are being helped to car-share this year - for a green, affordable and fun way to get to their event.

Music industry gets eco overhaul

The origin of Julie's Bicycle's name is unveiled as the music industry gears up for a green revolution aimed at cutting carbon emissions.

Cherry Red's Iain McNay interviews Alison Tickell

Cherry Red's Iain McNay interviews Alison Tickell. Visit Cherry Red TV and you'll find it under 'Music Business' interviews.

Centre for Sustainable Energy profile JB

The Centre for Sustainable Energy have included JB in a best practice review of community action on climate change prepared for the Energy Savings Trust.

Julie's Bicycle brings together the UK music industry to significantly reduce carbon emissions from the manufacture of CD packaging.

Julie’s Bicycle, an organization which seeks to reduce carbon emissions within the music industry, has gained the approval of every major record company, plus the Beggars Group, to establish a benchmark initial 10% reduction in C02 emissions from the manufacture of CD packaging in 2009.

Julie's Bicycle research launch

Julie’s Bicycle, in partnership with the London Development Agency, launched its ‘First Step’ report at the Royal Geographic Society on Friday April 18.