Imagining a just and green future for music cities: The case of Glasgow as a UNESCO City of Music

Professor Matt Brennan, University of Glasgow
RSE Personal Research Fellowship

In an era of accelerating climate crises, cultural sectors are increasingly being called upon to play a proactive role in supporting sustainable urban transformation. While a city’s music industry positively contributes to creativity and cultural vibrancy, it also relies on infrastructure—venues, transport, and online presence—that carries a substantial environmental footprint.

Professor Matt Brennan, Professor of Popular Music at the University of Glasgow, responded to this issue through his pioneering research project “Imagining a Just and Green Future for Music Cities: The Case of Glasgow as a UNESCO City of Music.” Supported by a prestigious RSE Personal Research Fellowship, the project critically examined how music culture and infrastructure intersect with environmental sustainability and social justice in an urban context, specifically looking at the case of Glasgow, which was designated a UNESCO City of Music in 2008.

Professor Brennan explained,

The project pursued four key objectives:

1. Mapping music infrastructure and environmental impact
   Using qualitative methods and complex systems analysis, Professor Brennan interviewed 21 Glasgow music organisations and created a Social Network Analysis map of the city’s music ecosystem. Collaborating with Glasgow City Council, he also developed an interactive Glasgow Music City Map that overlays music venues with sustainable transport infrastructure.
2. Aligning music sector activity with climate policy
   Professor Brennan authored a comprehensive, research-informed proposal titled ‘Towards a Just and Green Music City’, published as a public website. This vision document is designed to support Glasgow City Council’s ‘net zero by 2030’ targets and initiatives and serves as the intellectual foundation for a forthcoming AHRC Standard Grant, being developed in collaboration with Glasgow Life and Creative Carbon Scotland.
3. Dissemination of findings and engagement
   The project exceeded expectations for dissemination. Outputs included multiple academic conference papers; a peer-reviewed, co-authored book chapter with policymakers representing three UNESCO Cities of Music (publication expected 2025); a public engagement short film – The Archaeologist – which was screened at Between the Blue and Green Film Festival in Worthing and International Migration and Environmental Film Festival in Toronto at the end of 2024; knowledge exchange presentations to cross-party groups in Scottish Parliament; and collaborative workshops involving fellow RSE Network Grant recipients Dr Inge Sørensen and Dr Mark Wong among others.
4. Stakeholder Collaboration for Future Action
   Professor Brennan engaged widely with researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders locally and globally, notably through the UNESCO Cities of Music Network, to scope follow-on activities based on project findings. This engagement generated multiple follow-on activities and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Impact and Outcomes

The project made a tangible impact across several dimensions:

Policy Influence: Professor Brennan provided expert input to multiple policy consultations, including Glasgow Life’s sustainability strategy, the Thriving Cities Initiative, and Scottish Parliament Cross-Party Groups.

Collaborative Research Capacity: The project sparked new interdisciplinary partnerships at the University of Glasgow across music, urban studies, film and TV, and systems power engineering—resulting in new funded initiatives supported by the NERC disciplinary hopping fund; the £10m UKRI-funded project ‘Glasgow as a Living Lab Accelerating Novel Transformation’ (GALLANT) Innovation Fund; the Joint Impact Acceleration grant; and a pending grant application in collaboration with Dr Inge Sørensen (pictured) and Dr Mark Wong, Glasgow Life, Creative Scotland, and Climate for Culture.

Civic Resources: The mapping and guidance tools developed are being utilised by Glasgow Life, the Marketing Bureau, and other stakeholders to promote sustainable cultural tourism and venue planning.

Professional Development: Professor Brennan cited the RSE Personal Research  as instrumental in his promotion to professorship, noting its role in deepening community and academic engagement.

Global Recognition: The research has drawn interest from international cities in the UNESCO network and beyond, positioning Glasgow as a leading voice in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and justice.

Professor Matt Brennan said,

Imagining a Just and Green Future for Music Cities has laid a foundational framework for integrating music and cultural policy into broader sustainability agendas. It demonstrates that far from being passive cultural assets, music cities can actively shape pathways to just and green urban futures. With strong collaborative roots and a clear strategic vision, the project offers a replicable model for cities worldwide seeking to harmonise cultural vibrancy with environmental responsibility.