Cheeky billboards calling out the relentless promotion of fossil fuels have popped up across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with a clear message for governments: stop fossil fuel advertising.
The campaign, led by climate communications charity Comms Declare, is calling for fossil fuel advertising to be removed from community-owned spaces such as public transport, bus shelters and billboards – just like ads for other dangerous products such as tobacco and alcohol.
Belinda Noble, Founder of Comms Declare, said the link between continued fossil fuel use and weather disasters has been proven beyond doubt.
“As we’ve tragically seen in recent weeks, New Zealanders are living with more intense floods and storms, driven by the continued burning of fossil fuels.”
“Yet every day we’re surrounded by ads encouraging us to keep buying dirty energy and portraying polluting companies as friends of the community,” Noble said.
Matt Halliday from Comms Declare Aotearoa said advertising plays a powerful role in shaping what people buy and what is socially acceptable.
“Fossil fuel advertising works by normalising demand for products that are driving climate harm, at exactly the moment we need to be accelerating the shift to cleaner transport and energy,” he said.
“As a country of abundant renewable resources, it’s time for Aotearoa to stop accelerating pollution and start backing solutions that actually protect our future.”
Dr Jim Salinger, Climate Scientist, Climate Club Science Panel, says “The link is clear — burning fossil fuels causes climate change. We can all be part of the solution by buying less fossil fuels and advocating for the choice to travel sustainably.”
Emily Mabin Sutton Chief Executive, Climate Club Aotearoa, says “Our mayors and councillors who want to make their cities liveable can take this easy action to make sure access to information is balanced and isn’t unfairly tilted towards polluting industries and their messengers… We moved to ban tobacco advertising because it caused harm — history will be on our side.”
The campaign calls on people to visit fossiladban.org and sign a petition to stop fossil fuel advertising.
Fast Facts – Fossil Ad Bans
- Aotearoa’s first fossil fuel advertising restrictions were introduced by Greater Wellington Regional Council across the Metlink public transport network in 2023.
- In Australia, 18 fossil fuel advertising bans have been voted for or implemented, including by the City of Sydney and the Australian Capital Territory.
- High carbon advertising has been prohibited in more than 40 jurisdictions globally
- France has introduced a national ban on fossil fuel advertising.