Ban fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship

Advertisements encourage the use of products and sponsorship promotes a positive reputation & creates a social licence of trust & acceptability. In 2003 a ban on all tobacco advertising was introduced and has arguably worked. I believe continued fossil fuel usage will kill more people than smoking.

Fossil fuel advertising has a history of ‘greenwashing’ and a recent report identifies £4bn+ spent by FF companies on 205 active sports sponsorship deals. There is plenty of evidence that FF must be rapidly phased out to mitigate the worst impacts of climate breakdown. I think that preventing the companies’ efforts to enhance their social capital and normalise their activities would proactively help address the climate crisis and mitigate future harm to human health.

The government is committed to reducing emissions from high carbon products and will continue to bring forward proposals to do so. [For example, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is assessing the potential for voluntary ecolabels. Ecolabels provide information on the carbon intensity and environmental impact of products and services, to help inform consumers’ purchasing decisions.]

The Committees of Advertising Practice and Advertising Standards Authority regulate the content and targeting of advertising in the UK, and the advertising codes include rules on environmental claims. The ASA system operates independently of the government. The government does not currently have any plans to restrict fossil fuel advertising.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero