The Edge defends U2360's carbon footprint

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U2 Guitarist Defends Tour Against Charges Of Environmental Damage


LaunchDaily
8/18/2009

U2 guitarist The Edge defended the elaborate production on the band's current U2 360 tour against charges that it is having a negative impact on the environment. Environmental activist Helen Roberts claimed last month that to offset the trek's carbon footprint, U2 "would need to plant 20,118 trees." Talking to BBC 6 Music, The Edge responded, "I think anybody that's touring is going to have a carbon footprint. I think it's probably unfair to single out rock 'n' roll. There's many other things that are in the same category but as it happens we have a program to offset whatever carbon footprint we have."

The Edge added, "We're spending the money on our fans, I don't think there's a better thing you could spend it on."

U2 was slammed by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne last month, with Byrne saying about the production, "Those stadium shows may possibly be the most extravagant and expensive (production-wise) ever . . . It could be professional envy speaking here, but it sure looks like, well, overkill, and just a wee bit out of balance given all the starving people in Africa and all."

The entire tour, which encompasses 100 dates in 18 months, will see the Irish rockers travel 70,000 miles in their private jet alone. The band is utilizing a staff of 200 and the same number of trucks to cart around three copies of its massive, stadium-straddling stage set known as "The Claw."

According to the New York Times, U2 is buying carbon offsets to make up for the potential damage the tour is doing.