In order to make up for the carbon footprint that their 2009 US tour had, Pearl Jam have planted $210,000 worth of trees in Washington. Reportedly, this also covers the carbon emissions from not only their own travel, but their fans’ travel as well.

Guitarist Stone Gossard told Reuters: “Pearl Jam is a band but we are also a business. We’re seeing ourselves as a Washington business, a regional business that is acknowledging its carbon footprint and hoping to inspire other businesses.”

Clearly not all bands can afford to make such contributions and to cover their emissions, but it’s good to see a big band setting an example. Perhaps some other large bands will follow suit. Makes me proud to have payed $120AU to see them to tell the truth. In this time when there’s more and more concern about global warming (and rightly so, I add), it’s really quite inspiring to see large and influential people taking steps and leading by example.