The prestigious Cannes Lions Awards have given sustainability honors to advertising agencies that have track records of working with major oil and gas companies and other polluting clients. ⚠️⚠️
The top prize went to Publicis Conseil whose parent company held a contract with TotalEnergies, the world’s sixth-largest oil and gas company. Edelman, the world-famous PR firm that recently renewed the contract with Shell, took home a gold Cannes lion in the sustainability category for a campaign with the shipping company DP World. Even the Climate Investigations Center has described Edelman as “the dominant PR firm for trade associations that promote an anti-environmental agenda”. Other gold medal winners include AKQA and Ogilvy Columbia, while AKQA currently has a contract with Saudi Armco and Ogilvy has longstanding ties with BP, Shell, and Chevron….
Is this a joke? Or the judges can not see the woods for the trees⁉️
According to the Cannes Lions, the “Sustainable Development Goals” category “celebrates creative problem solving, solutions or other initiatives that harness creativity and seek to positively impact the world”. Judges evaluate submissions for how they have “contributed to or advanced the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development across people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships”.
That might be veracious for this single campaign, but how about 99% of other campaigns they did for the big oil companies? Should that be accountable?
If advertising companies are using their creativity to act as enablers of planetary destruction, shouldn’t that be highlighted to people?
https://www.desmog.com/2024/06/27/advertisings-top-prizes-for-sustainability-go-to-agencies-with-polluting-clients/
•
•
28 w
Very disappointing!
•
•
28 w
This incongruity highlights the need for more rigorous evaluation criteria that align with genuine environmental stewardship and accountability.
•
•
29 w
This undermines the credibility of these honor, and the organizers of such awards!!
•
•
•
29 w
Dear Vermeer Xie Your climate warning has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to Cannes Lions by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
•
•
29 w
how were these companies nominated?
•
•
29 w
@annett_michuki Greenwashing business everywhere!
•
•
29 w
This is hypocrisy. True commitment to sustainability should mean prioritizing partnerships and campaigns that align with environmental values, not just presenting a green facade while supporting polluters.