Burning Man is not a festival. It is a community and a global cultural movement, with local communities and events flourishing all over the world. Burning Man culture emanated from Black Rock City and has spread to every continent! Our ephemeral city in the Black Rock Desert is an annual experiment in temporary community guided by Radical Self-expression, Radical Self-reliance, and the rest of the core 10 Principles of our culture. In Black Rock City you are responsible for your own survival, safety, and well-being. You are invited to collaborate, be inclusive, creative, connective, and to Leave No Trace.

In 2022, we brought our beloved city back. It was an unprecedented feat of Communal Effort, and an astounding achievement of logistical and cultural prowess. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the mighty endeavor of rebuilding Black Rock City after a two-year hiatus — the fabric of our community is as strong as ever. Now that we’ve proven we can rebuild, it’s time to show the world that Black Rock City can be a prototype for redesigning a city even better than where it began.

In 2019, we made a giant leap with our Environmental Sustainability Roadmap, which outlines three important goals we wish to attain by 2030:

1) No Matter Out of Place. Handle waste ecologically.

2) Be Regenerative. Create a net positive ecological and environmental impact.

3) Be Carbon Negative. Remove more carbon from the environment than we put into it.

These goals are in line with what we all need to do to ensure that Earth is a viable ecosystem. We believe that the Burning Man community has a pivotal role to play.

The road ahead is ambitious, and we’re doing real work to get there. As it was in 2022, the Man will be 100% powered by solar and renewables in 2023 and beyond. The use of battery coupled generators will be expanded on BRC’s internal grid, reducing our fossil fuel needs. Generators powered by diesel fuel are being replaced by solar generators and increasingly utilizing renewable fuels. More renewably-powered infrastructure, including additional solar-powered light towers and other solar-powered lighting, are being implemented. Theme camps are joining in greening too — lookout for a Green Corridor in the 3:00 sector for a grouping of camps setting the bar for renewal energy, waste systems, and more!

In 2023, you will see even more environmentally-conscious art — many artists are working to power their art projects sustainably, and More than a third of this year’s Honoraria projects demonstrate a significant effort beyond solar power, bringing sustainability into other aspects of the project — including concept, transportation, and materials.

We hope Burners around the world step up and help right the ship so Burning Man culture, humanity, and life on Earth can thrive into the future. As you prepare for your Burn and read through this Survival Guide, consider how you, your friends, and your camp can contribute to our shared goal to create a sustainable city. Will you prototype a new waste management or grey water system? Are you de-MOOPing everything you bring to the playa before you arrive? Using reusable construction materials? Minimizing kitchen and food waste? Doing MOOP sweeps at your camp and picking up MOOP when you see it on the open playa? Are you reducing power needs at your camp and thinking creatively how you can share resources with your neighbors? Are you sorting your trash and recycling before you depart BRC for easy drop off at collection centers on your way home? For lots of tips on greening your Burn, see the Leaving No Trace section of this guide.