Worldwide initiatives to ban fossil fuel advertisements
The louder the call for climate policy, the more fossil fuel industry advertises.
Their advertisements keep us invested in a fossil fuel world. They’re meant to prevent regulation to their industry. That’s why people have recently started fighting fossil fuel ads. All over the world. We keep this page updated.
Do you know of an initiative that’s missing? Please let us know!
Laws that ban fossil fuel ads
FR – French parliament has adopted a law that bans ads for fossil fuel energy, like petrol and diesel. The ad ban is expected to be enforced in the summer of 2022. In 2028 an ad ban for the most polluting cars will follow.
This is a shadow of the original proposal by the citizen’s assembly for law that banned advertising for fossil fueled cars, air travel and fossil fuel industry.
Campaigns for a law that bans fossil fuel ads
EU – Greenpeace, 350.org and many others launch a European Citizen’s Initiative for a tobacco style law that bans ads for big oil, air travel and cars with fossil fuel engines.
NL – Campaign for a tobacco style law by Reclame Fossielvrij that bans ads for big oil, air travel and cars with fossil fuel engines.
UK – Campaign by Badvertising, New Weather Institute and Possible to ban SUV-ads.
UK – ClientEarth pleas for a nationwide ban greenwashing in the UK, when fossil fuel companies refuse to put a warning on their ads.
CA – Campaign by Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment for a tobacco style law that bans ads and sponsorships by fossil fuel industry and gaspowered vehicles.
CA – Canadian doctors, educators and students ask to ban fossil fuel promotion in schools.
CA – Citizens initiative in City of North Vancouver for a tobacco style law that bans ads for big oil, air travel and cars with fossil fuel engines. And they ask to re-direct fossil fuel money used for marketing into an unbranded fund that helps the transition.
FR – A citizen’s assembly proposal to ban billboards that advertise for high carbon products (ie SUVs).
FR – Campaign by Greenpeace France for a tobacco style ban on advertising for fossil fuel industry, air travel and polluting cars
Parliamentary initiatives for a law that bans fossil fuel ads
EU – Parliamentarian David Cormand proposed a draft proposition to ban ads for fossil fuel products and services. His proposal was rejected.
NL – Six political parties (ChristenUnie, GroenLinks, PvdA, Partij voor de Dieren, BIJ1 and Volt Europe) adopted a ban on fossil fuel ads in their election program (March 2021).
NL – Three parties in national parliament ask questions to the minister for climate about the harm of fossil ads. They request to research a ban on fossil ads.
UK – Green Party to end advertising for high carbon goods and services like SUVs and long haul flights
BE – A proposal for a law that bans ads for SUVs by Ecoli-Groen & cdH
City council initiatives on a ban on fossil fuel ads
NL – City of Amsterdam. On december 17th the majority of the city council in Amsterdam has decided it wants a ban on all fossil fuel ads and fossil fuel (kids) festivals in public space. On May 3rd Amsterdam took the first step and banned ads for cheap tickets and polluting cars from the subwaystations.
NL – Following Amsterdam 5 other Dutch cities – The Hague, Utrecht, Leiden, Enschede, Haarlem – pass motions to bans fossil ads.
In Eindhoven the alderman has promised that her successor after the elections will give the city council more information about possibilities and costs of banning fossil ads.
In Arnhem and Noordwijk motions are still pending.
In Groningen, Alkmaar, Zaanstad, Rotterdam and Aalsmeer motions were rejected.
UK – North Somerset will ban all high carbon advertisements. They will do so by listing companies and products that are no longer allowed to advertise in the town
UK – In Norwich a motion passed to ban advertisements that harm the public health and the environment.
UK – In Liverpool a motion passed to ban fossil fuel advertisements (aviation, suvs and fossil fuel industry).
UK – Adblock Leeds launched a campaign in Leeds to follow the Amsterdam example
UK – Adblock Bristol launched a petition in Bristol to follow the Amsterdam example
SE – City of Örebro. Two parties plea for an Amsterdam style ban of fossil fuel ads in the city
SE – City of Stockholm. Vice Mayor for climate and environment Katarina Luhr pleas for an Amsterdam style ban of fossil fuel ads in the city
SE – City of Göteborg. Three parties plea for an Amsterdam style ban of fossil fuel ads in the city
SE – City of Lund. A motion was put forward to phase out fossil ads for flying by 2023 at the latest
NO – City of Oslo. Oslo MDG wants to ban fossil ads.
FI – In the city council of Helsinki a motion was presented to ban all fossil fuel advertisements.
CA – City of Regina, Saskatchewan. Councillor Daniel LeBlanc proposed a motion to ban fossil fuel ads. He encountered such fierce opposition, including threats, that he withdrew support.
USA – New York City files consumer protection lawsuit against Exxon, Shell BP and American Petroleum Institute to ban false advertising and deceptive trade practices in the city.
Media that ban fossil fuel ads
SE – The newspaper Dagens Nyheter (2nd newspaper of Sweden) has restricted fossil fuel ads.
SE – The newspaper Dagens ETC bans all fossil fuel advertisements: big oil, air travel, fossil fueled cars.
UK – The Guardian bans all advertisements for big oil.
UK – British Medical Journal bans all ads and scientific papers paid by the fossil fuel industry
Calls for media to drop fossil fuel ads
USA – Ads Not Fit To Print: Tell The New York Times to Stop Promoting Fossil Fuels
USA – Why Are The New York Times and The Washington Post Producing Ads for Big Oil?
Multiple climate organizations call for publishers of German newspapers to stop fossil fuel advertising. Tagenszeitung is already seriously considering to quit fossil fuel ads.
BE – Politico should drop its branded content for Shell
NL – NRC should drop its home made branded content for Shell
NL – Trouw, as the ‘green’ newspaper of the Netherlands, should ban fossil fuel ads.
Chief editor of Trouw wants his newspaper to ban ads from the fossil fuel industry and for air travel. He writes this in an editorial in which he reflects on the talk he and his publisher had with Reclame Fossielvrij. The publisher has promised to discuss it with the board of DPG Media.
Public Transport that bans fossil fuel ads
USA – Campaigners from Sierra Club ask King County (Washington State) wants to ban fossil fuel ads from public transport
NL – Amsterdam public transport agency GVB bans Shell greenwashing, maybe more
(Court) cases against fossil fuel ads
World – for all climate related court cases – in the US and the rest of the world – and the latest updates, please check Climate Case Chart
NL – Along with Fossielvrij Netherlands and ClientEarth
we’re helping take legal action against major Dutch airline KLM. It is the first court case over misleading marketing that promotes the sustainability of flying.
FR – Greenpeace France, Friends of the Earth France, Notre Affaire à Tous and ClientEarth take legal action against TotalEnergies and it’s net zero marketing. The case argues that Total’s ads are misleading and breach EU consumer law and asks the court to order Total to stop misleading ads and prohibit the company from making the misleading claims in the future.
USA – The city of Honolulu successfully starts a case against Shell, Exxon and Chevron for deception on climate change, also through advertising.
USA – A House subcommittee is demanding that executives of
Exxon Mobil Corp., Shell, Chevron and other major oil and gas companies
testify before Congress about the industry’s decades-long effort to wage
disinformation campaigns around climate change.
USA – The state of Massachusetts sued Exxon for deceptive advertising to Massachusetts consumers and for misleading Massachusetts investors about the risks to Exxon’s business posed by fossil fuel-driven climate change—including
systemic financial risk.
USA – State Attorney of Vermont files a lawsuit against oil companies, including Exxon and Shell, for false advertising and deceptive trade practices.
USA – New York City files consumer protection lawsuit against Exxon, Shell BP and American Petroleum Institute for false advertising and deceptive trade practices.
USA – Unprecedented complaint files at US Federal Trade Commission against misleading advertisements by Chevron. Filed by Global Witness, Greenpeace USA and Earthworks.
USA – More than 20 cities in the US, ao Washington DC, sue Shell, Exxon, BP and Chevron for misleading their citizens. Also with their advertisements. Make the Future is part of the evidence.
USA – Beyond Pesticides sues Exxon for misleading claims in advertisements about green investments.
NL – Nine law students file a 95-page complaint about Shell’s advertising for CO2-compensation at the Reclame Code Commissie (Dutch Advertising Authority).
NL – Milieudefensie vs Shell. Fossil Fuel advertisements are presented as evidence for hampering climate policy.
IT – Oil major ENI slapped with €5m fine for greenwashing palm oil diesel
NGO reports on how advertising harms climate action
Desmog and Greenpeace – Words vs Actions – the truth behind car and airlines advertising
Greenpeace and New Weather Institute Advertising Climate Chaos – How much is advertising cars and flights fuelling the climate emergency
Greenpeace Belgium Words vs Actions Car Industry
Badvertising – Advertising drives demand for SUVs
Badvertising/New Weather Institute – Sweat not oil: Why sports should drop advertising and sponsorship from high-carbon
New Weather Institute – Advertising’ role in climate change and ecological degradation
Badvertising – Upselling Smoke – on advertising for SUVs
Badvertising – Smoking out the Climate – lessons from the advertising ban on tobacco for climate emergency
Greenpeace France: Pour Une Loi Evin Climat
Influence Map: Big Oil’s Real Agenda on Climate Change
DeSmog (commissioned by Greenpeace NL): Words vs actions
Scientific research/scientists about advertising and climate change
Well-oiled histories and corporate sponsorships in Dutch Museums
How does corporate sponsorship shape the narration and curation of Dutch
history in public museums? This article evaluates the significance and
impact of private funding in the Dutch heritage and museum sector. By
focusing on three museums that have received funding from Dutch oil and
gas companies the researches foreground specifically the nexus heritage, oil, and
funding. They show how a particular type of ‘energy literacy’ is promoted,
a narrative that is favourable to the agenda of the gas and oil sector. (Plets and Kuijt)
Dissociating Controllable and Uncontrollable Effects of Affective Stimuli on Attitudes and Consumption
This research studies a fundamental and seemingly straightforward question: Can basic advertising elements, such as the presence of attractive imagery, have uncontrollable effects on consumers’ attitudes and consumption decisions? The answer is yes. (Hütter and Sweldon)
The clean energy claims of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell: A mismatch between discourse, actions and investments
Conclusion: the transition to clean energy business models is not occurring, since the magnitude of investments and actions does not match discourse. Until actions and investment behavior are brought into alignment with discourse, accusations of greenwashing appear well-founded.
(Li, Trencher, Asuka, February 2022)
Big Oil in City Hall
In the city council of Regina (Sasketchewan, Canada) an amendment was proposed to a sponsorship motion, which proposed the fossil fuel industry wouldn’t be able to sponsor city events and buildings anymore. This report investigates the overwhelming, and in some cases, coordinated response by the oil industry and its allies.
(Enoch, Korpan, for Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, December 2021)
All fossil fuel ads should be banned – Alexandra Grant-Hudd for the Earth Institute Columbia University NYC (December 2021)
‘The role of public relations firms in climate change politics’: this paper provides an exploratory overview of the extent and nature of involvement of PR firms in climate political action by organizations in five sectors: Coal/Steel/Rail, Oil & Gas, Utilities, Renewable Energy, and the Environmental Movement. The analysis shows that the engagement of public relations firms by organizations in all of these sectors is widespread.
(Brulle, Werthman, published in Climatic Change, November 2021, pdf of entire paper)
Rhetoric and frame analysis of ExxonMobil’s climate change communications
Computational assessment of how ExxonMobil has used language to subtly yet systematically frame public discourse about climate change. The study shows that ExxonMobil uses rhetoric mimicking the tobacco industry to downplay the reality and seriousness of climate change, to present fossil fuel dominance as reasonable and inevitable, and to shift responsibility for climate change away from itself and onto consumers. (Supran, Oreskes, May 2021)
All fossil fuel ads are misleading, because they serve to normalise an extremely harmful product and industry. That’s why a total ban, like the ban on tobacco is the best regulatory solution. (Kaupa, Journal for European Consumer and Market Law, February 2021)
UNEP identifies a ban on advertising of large, high-carbon private vehicles and to a restriction on airline and flight advertising as mechanisms for lifestyle change which can have a substantial mitigation potential to reduce emissions. Also carbon labelling at point of sale for vehicle fuel and other fossil fuel products is mentioned.
(UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2020, December 2020)
By letting Shell contribute to exhibitions in the NEMO museum, an apparently neutral platform was created where Shell could legitimize its business story. (Van der Plaat, June 2020)
A ban on fossil fuel advertising is identified as social tipping point by the Potsdam Institute. (Otto et al, February 2020)
Advertising by fossil fuel industry is meant to strengthen lobby / public affairs and influence climate policy according to fossil fuel interests. (Brulle, Aronczyk & Carmichael, December 2019)
Childmarketing by fossil fuel industry as a way of obstructing change. (Eaton & Day, July 2019)
Research reveals the power inequities surrounding climate discourse by suggesting that wealthy industry trade groups employ a discursive practice of distraction and appropriation of U.S cultural values and mores, essentially shifting public dialogue from climate change and potential environmental policies to how these policies would hurt the industries and adversely affect the average U.S. citizen. (B. Miller Gaither & T. Kenn Gaither, July 2016)
ExxonMobil’s use of a didactic, greenwashed frame stifles criticism and discourages examination of ideologies of consumption by exploiting the ethos of the scientist and highlighting technological solutions to problems that are deeply tied to a culture of consumerism. The definition of green energy is controlled by those with the power to generate persuasive public messages about the sources and production of energy. (Plec & Pettenger, April 2012)
Agencies that protest fossil fuel ads
AU – Communication professionals declare not to work for fossil fuel industry: CommsDeclare
USA – Advertisement agencies refuse to work for fossil fuel industry: Clean Creatives
UK – Advertisement agencies take responsibility for the effects of their work: The Great Reset.
Creatives for Climate
“We arm creatives with the skills, knowledge and connections they need to tackle the climate emergency!
Through live events, workshops, learning resources, open discussion forums and collaboration we bring together an active group of committed change agents to learn, develop their skills, and take action for the planet.”
Purpose Disruptors
“We aim to create a visible, large scale movement within the advertising industry, working together to make the necessary transition to meaningfully tackle climate change.”
Grassroots and NGOs fighting (fossil) ads
Berlin Werbe Frei
“The city becomes a commodity and the public space is being commercialized (commodification). Private economic interests define the image of our city. The city has, in a sense, entered a partnership with the advertising industry to the detriment of the citizens. The referendum-initiative Berlin Werbefrei stands up to this trend by proposing a concept of a bearable use of advertisement within the public space.”
Werbe Frei Hamburg
“Wir sind Hamburger:innen, denen ihre Stadt am Herzen liegt. Uns bewegen Themen wie Meinungsfreiheit, Umweltschutz, Ästhetik, Architektur, Stadtplanung und Verkehrssicherheit. Wir agieren unabhängig von Parteien und Organisationen.”
ClientEarth
“The science couldn’t be clearer: we are facing a climate crisis that threatens the future of life on Earth. But we have the power to fix it.
We work in partnership across borders, systems and sectors. Our work focuses on changing the system – informing, implementing and enforcing the law, advising decision-makers on policy and training legal and judicial professionals. Because a future in which people and planet thrive together isn’t just possible: it’s essential.”
SP IM
“SPIM est un programme interassociatif de production d’analyse politique
sur les enjeux de régulation de la communication des multinationales”
New Weather Institute UK
“The New Weather Institute is a co-op and a think-tank, created to accelerate the rapid transition to a fair economy that thrives within planetary boundaries. We find, design and advocate ways of working and living that are more humane, reasonable and effective.“
Badvertising
“‘Badvertising’ is a campaign to stop adverts fuelling the climate emergency. This includes ads for cars, airline flights and fossil fuels. We ended tobacco advertising when we understood the harm done by smoking. Now we know the damage done by fossil fuel products and activities, it’s time to stop promoting them.”
New Weather Institute Sweden
“The climate and nature are changing faster than we are. Warming and species extinction threaten our civilization and ecosystems, but despite climate laws and conventions, nothing has changed fundamentally, politics-as-usual is what we see. Through projects and campaigns, we aim to inspire and lift the debate to a level where system change and action are in focus.”
AntiPub/ RAP
“Résistance à l’Agression Publicitaire (R.A.P.), c’est 30 ans de lutte contre le système publicitaire et nous rapprochent de plus en plus de l’obtention de nos revendications“
Fossil Free Media
“Fossil Free Media strengthens the movement to end fossil fuels through creative communications.“
Fossil Frei Medien
“Wir sind eine Gruppe von Klimaaktiven und unterschiedlichen Organisationen. Gemeinsam rufen wir die deutschen Medienhäuser zum Umsteuern auf.”
Greenpeace EU
“Fossil fuel companies, carmakers, airlines and maritime companies use advertising and sponsorships as a smokescreen to distract attention from their climate-wrecking business, while their activities continue to plunge us deeper into the climate and human rights crises. This has to stop. Now, we have the power to change the law with the European Citizens’ Initiative. Act now for a historic ban on fossil fuel ads and sponsorships!”
Clean Creatives
“We are strategists, creatives, and industry leaders who believe that fossil fuel clients represent a threat to our shared future.”
Resistance Against Aggressive Advertising (RAP)
“Résistance à l’Agression Publicitaire (R.A.P.), c’est 30 ans de lutte contre le système publicitaire et nous rapprochent de plus en plus de l’obtention de nos revendications“
Subvertisers International
“The Subvertisers’ International is a international movement of individuals and organisations concerned with how advertising affects society. We are local and national groups of activists, artists and collectives, NGOs and not-for-profits, teachers and parents, scientists and doctors, public and private citizens. We are all concerned with how commercial media is shaping our lives, and determined that the time to act is now.”
Brandalism
“Brandalism is a revolt against the corporate control of culture and space. We are an international collective of artists that challenge corporate power, greed and corruption around the world.”
Fossil Free Culture NL
“We are a collective of artists, activists, researchers and critics working at the intersection of art and climate activism. Our goal is to confront oil and gas sponsorship of public cultural institutions in the Netherlands. We are committed to eroding the fossil fuel industry’s public image and their social license to operate.”
Fossil Free Football
“Football fans defending our beautiful game against fossil fuel money.“
Adblock Amsterdam
BP or not BP
“We are BP or not BP? – a merry troupe of players who came together in 2012 aghast that our beloved Bard’s works and memory had been purloined by BP in a case of greenwash most foul. We are like a drop of water that in the ocean seeks another drop. Together, we will make a flood.”
Fossielvrij Onderwijs
“We are fighting fossil fuel influence in schools. They try to invade schools with sponsored lesson material and organise festivals and competition for kids – starting at age 6.”
Reclame Fossielvrij
“We campaign for a law in the Netherlands that bans advertisements for fossil fuel industry and polluting travel (air, cruises and fossil fueled cars). To create momentum we urge frontrunners like cities and media to take the lead.”
Social Tipping Point Coalitie
“We urge the government to take measures that elicit a social tipping point that is needed to prevent a cascade of physical tipping points. One of these measures is a fossil ad ban.”
Canadian physicians association for the environment
“CAPE takes action to enable health for all by engaging with governments, running campaigns, conducting research, and drawing media attention to key issues. Amongst others they plea for a fossil fuel ad ban.”
Fossil Free Politics
“We can no longer afford to let the fossil fuel industry undermine our democracy as we try and halt climate chaos, fix our energy system, and protect people and planet.
To tackle the climate emergency, and ensure that climate policy is conducted entirely in the public interest, we must cut fossil fuel interests out of politics, similar to existing restrictions on the tobacco industry. Before it’s too late.”
Art not Oil
“Art Not Oil has mobilised against Big Oil cultural sponsorship since 2004. It was a Rising Tide UK campaign from that date until 2013, when it became a coalition of autonomous organisations united around the aim of ending oil sponsorship of the arts, and sharing its resources as the Art Not Oil Coalition.”
Culture Unstained
“We are a research, engagement and campaigning organisation which aims to end fossil fuel sponsorship of culture.
We call on arts and cultural organisations to cut their ties to fossil fuels, with the aim of undermining the social legitimacy that the industry gains from these relationships.”
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