A few months ago, UN Chief António Guterres called for a global ban on fossil fuel advertising, drawing parallels to the restrictions placed on tobacco ads. Yesterday, The Hague took an extraordinary step in answering this call by passing a historic local law banning advertisements for fossil fuel products and high-carbon services, such as air travel and cruise ships. The law will take effect on January 1, 2025, making The Hague the first city globally to enact such legislation.
Why This Matters
This pioneering action sends a strong message: governments are ready to make concrete changes to address the climate crisis and reduce harmful commercial influences. Banning fossil fuel advertising is a bold move in the fight against climate change, encouraging other cities worldwide to follow suit.
Key Points:
The Hague is the first city in the world to pass a local law banning fossil fuel advertising.
The ban targets both fossil fuel products and high-carbon services.
This legislation will take effect on January 1, 2025.
It follows UN Chief António Guterres’ call for governments to treat fossil fuel ads like tobacco ads.
The law could inspire similar actions worldwide, creating a ripple effect.
What Campaigners Are Saying
Campaigners across the globe are praising this landmark decision, seeing it as a potential catalyst for other cities. Leonie Gerritsen from The Hague’s Party for the Animals said, “The Hague wants to be climate neutral by 2030. It is not appropriate to allow advertising for products from the fossil industry.”
Others, like Femke Sleegers from Fossil Free Advertising, believe The Hague has set a precedent for local governments everywhere to tackle the climate crisis head-on.
Scientific Support
Experts have also highlighted the significance of this ban. Associate Professor Thijs Bouman emphasized, “Fossil advertising normalizes unsustainable behavior and undermines climate policies.” Dr. Uwe Krüger added, “Advertising for high-emission products normalizes consumption that we urgently need to reduce.”
A Catalyst for Change
This groundbreaking move could inspire other cities and governments to enact similar laws, accelerating the global fight against climate change. By taking action at the local level, The Hague has shown that significant progress can be made—one city at a time.
Let’s send some Climate Love to the Mayor of The Hague and hope this sparks similar actions worldwide!
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1 w
Good work to the mayor of Hague, this is incredible news.
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2 w
Great role model for adopting sustainable practices. This move will address climate change and challenge the pervasive influence of fossil fuel narratives in public discourse, fostering a more informed future.
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2 w
Wowza!! The Hague’s bold move to ban fossil fuel advertising is a groundbreaking step in the global fight against climate change. By tackling harmful commercial influences, the city sets a strong precedent, inspiring other governments to take concrete actions to protect the planet.
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2 w
Great job..the kind of bold moves that we all ought to take inorder to bring about change in our future.
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2 w
kudos to him