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The Hague makes history by banning fossil fuel ads
The Hague has passed the world’s first law prohibiting advertisements promoting fossil fuel products and high-carbon services like aviation and cruise ships.
In short:
- The new law, effective in 2025, bans fossil fuel-related ads from public spaces like billboards and bus shelters in The Hague.
- The legislation does not cover political advertising by the fossil fuel industry or brand-promoting ads.
- The move may inspire similar efforts in cities like Toronto and Graz.
Key quote:
“The Hague shows the courage needed to tackle the climate crisis.”
— Femke Sleegers, Reclame Fossielvrij
Why this matters:
Fossil fuel ads promote unsustainable behaviors that conflict with climate policy. Banning these ads can help shift public focus toward sustainable options like public transport, supporting broader environmental goals.
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Credit: Julian Hochgesang/Unsplash
Sustainability awards go to ad agencies with fossil fuel clients
Despite partnering with major polluters, advertising agencies WPP, Publicis Groupe and Edelman received top sustainability awards at Cannes Lions.
In short:
- Edelman won a sustainability award for an energy-saving campaign but has long-standing contracts with fossil fuel companies like Shell.
- Publicis Conseil and Renault were awarded for providing vehicles in "mobility deserts" despite Publicis Conseil’s past work with TotalEnergies.
- WPP agencies AKQA and Ogilvy also won sustainability awards while maintaining ties with oil giants such as BP and Chevron.
Key quote:
“In a warming world, every degree has a significant impact.”
— Edelman campaign voiceover
Why this matters:
Awarding sustainability honors to agencies with polluting clients illustrates the inconsistency in recognizing genuine environmental efforts. It raises concerns about the credibility of such awards and the ongoing influence of fossil fuel companies.
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Media outlets pull Saudi Aramco's climate ads amidst regulatory scrutiny
Following a complaint about misleading climate advertisements in the UK, the Financial Times and Reuters have removed Saudi Aramco's content promoting its environmental initiatives.
In short:
- The withdrawn content includes advertorials and a podcast, alleged to overstate the effectiveness of Aramco's "advanced fuels" in reducing carbon emissions.
- The New Weather Institute's complaint prompted the removal, accusing the content of presenting biased information favoring oil-dependent technologies over electric vehicles.
- The Advertising Standards Authority is currently investigating the allegations of greenwashing.
Key quote:
"Journalism needs decontaminating from polluters’ vested interests."
— Andrew Simms, co-director of the New Weather Institute.
Why this matters:
When media organizations choose to run advertisements containing misleading or false information about climate issues, it can erode trust in the media and conflict with the ethical responsibility journalists have to inform the public accurately.
Peter Dykstra: There's plenty of environmental content on TV — if you like misleading ads.
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Seeing viral pork TikToks? It’s a government-backed group pushing meat on Gen Z
Ad campaigns from controversial quasi-government programs for pork, dairy, and beef are raising new questions around the checkoff program’s foray into social media.
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Photo by Eelco Böhtlingk on Unsplash
Oil-friendly ad blitz targets Calif. climate policies
Oil industry allies in California are filling television and computer screens statewide with a multimillion-dollar ad campaign that blames state climate policies for pushing up gasoline and electricity costs.
Steve Rhodes/Flickr
Google let Daily Wire advertise to climate crisis deniers, research shows
Exclusive: Data shared by the Center for Countering Digital Hate shows that Ben Shapiro’s news site paid for climate crisis denial search term ads.
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Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
Big Tech helps Big Oil spread subtle climate denialism
Fossil-fuel companies’ climate messaging may have changed to fit the new century, but the goal is the same the industry has had for decades: to delay action and protect profits for as long as possible.
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