ActionAid launches citizens’ campaign for a ban on fossil fuel advertising in Europe

ActionAid is joining more than twenty organisations in the first ever Europe-wide campaign calling for a ban on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorships in the European Union (EU). 

The European Citizens’ Initiative Ban Fossil Fuel Advertising and Sponsorships calls for a ban on any advertisement or sponsorship in the EU by companies selling fossil fuels, vehicles running on fossil fuels, and flights or ferries that run on fossil fuels.  

If the campaign gathers one million verified signatures in support of the proposal, the European Commission is obliged to respond. 

Why ban fossil fuel ads?  

Fossil fuel companies are among those most responsible for the climate crisis, contributing directly to global emissions and rising temperatures.  

But their advertisements don’t tell you the full story. Instead, they use greenwashing tactics to sell you false solutions such as ‘net zero’ emissions targets and promoting fossil gas as a ‘clean energy’ alternative.   

A recent study by DeSmog found that these misleading claims accounted for 63% of advertisements by fossil fuel companies!  

Meanwhile, in the refineries, on our roads and in our skies, it’s business as usual. These companies continue their harmful activities, contributing to the climate crisis while misleading the public with impractical and unproven solutions. 

ActionAid’s climate policy coordinator Teresa Anderson explains how net zero plans are being used as a smokescreen that allows pollution to continue, instead of delivering the emission cuts needed to avert catastrophic climate change.  

“Instead of radically reducing emissions and rapidly phasing out fossil fuels, most net zero targets rely heavily on carbon offsetting, unproven technologies and tree plantations so vast there isn’t enough land on earth to support them,” she says. 

“This puts communities in the Global South, particularly indigenous peoples and women farmers, at risk of devastating land grabs and rights abuses.” 

It must stop now! 

The climate crisis is threatening all of our futures. Oil companies, the car industry, airlines and shipping are among the world’s biggest polluters. At the same time, they use advertising and sponsorships to promote their products and greenwash their dirty industries. 

That is why we stand together across borders in Europe to say no to advertising for fossil fuels that destroy the planet. 

We need your voice to demand a ban on fossil advertising throughout the EU.