Today, on World Environment Day, the United Nations Environment Programme named Dave Matthews Band a Goodwill Ambassador, citing the group’s “powerful environmental  advocacy and large-scale engagement of their fan base to take action for the planet.”

The main focus of the designation is DMB’s ongoing partnership with REVERB, with whom they’ve been working since 2005 on a collection of environmental efforts under the BamaGreen Project banner. Over the 15 years and 20 tours, the DMB/REVERB collaboration has eliminated nearly half a million plastic bottles at shows and over 120 million pounds of C02, raised $2 million, gathered over 300,000 gallons of recycling and inspired fans to bring environmental awareness into their daily lives, among other accomplishments. View the full impact statistics here.

“It’s desperate times, and we all need to work together to have hope for the future, hope for our children, and hope for the planet,” Matthews said at a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassadorship ceremony in St. Louis.

“The music industry needs artists who lead by example, and Dave Mathews Band has truly set the gold standard for green tours,” adds Guster’s Adam Gardner, founder of REVERB. “We are grateful to be working with artists like Dave Matthews Band who engage, educate and mobilize their fan base in the fight against climate change. This sends an important message to policy makers around the globe: The time to act is now.”

Dave Matthews Band continue their 2019 tour, along with their environmental efforts, with a two-night run at Camden, NJ’s BB&T Pavilion starting June 14. See their full schedule here. The band also recently announced that fans can pre-order the upcoming Rhino’s Choice collection of live performances on CD or rosé colored vinyl via Target here.