A New South Wales parliamentary committee has today recommended that the state government examine restrictions on fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship, marking a significant step forward in efforts to reduce the fossil fuel industry’s influence.
In its newly released report, Emissions from the Fossil Fuel Sector, the NSW Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future has recommended that the NSW Government “consider assessing limitations that can be placed on fossil fuel advertising or sponsorship agreements, with particular attention to public buildings, transport assets and educational institutions.”
It follows Comms Declare’s submission to the Inquiry that “the state of New South Wales is uniquely positioned to lead the nation in legislating restrictions on the advertising and sponsorship of coal, petroleum, and gas products, mirroring Labor’s world-beating precedent in tobacco advertising bans.”
Comms Declare founder, Belinda Noble welcomed the recommendation, “For years, fossil fuel companies have used advertising, sponsorships and partnerships to build public trust, delay climate action and normalise continued fossil fuel expansion. As governments work to reduce emissions, allowing the industry’s marketing and sponsorship to continue unchecked risks undermining those efforts.”
Comms Declare’s recent report, From Cradle to Career, found more than 260 fossil fuel-funded programs operating across Australia, reaching children and young people through schools, museums, sporting organisations, universities and other trusted institutions. The report highlights how these sponsorships and partnerships help build the industry’s social licence from an early age, making the committee’s recommendation to examine restrictions in educational institutions particularly significant.
More than 60 jurisdictions around the world, including 24 in Australia have voted for, or implemented some restrictions on fossil fuel promotions.