Members declare that they will “decline future activities promoting fossil fuels”. 

For brands, this means not hiring new agencies that have fossil fuel clients and telling their current agencies that they are not comfortable with any fossil fuel clients they may have.

For agencies and professional communicators, this means not promoting fossil fuel companies or products. 

For media companies or content producers, this means not accepting sponsorships or advertising from fossil fuel companies.

A declaration is not about perfection, it’s a public statement that we must disentangle our economy, society and culture from the big climate polluters destroying the things we love.

Companies whose primary business is the extraction, processing, transportation, or sale of oil, gas, or coal

Utilities and companies that meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Generate 50% or more of their electricity from fossil fuels
• Generate 50% or more of their revenue from business in fossil fuels
• Play an active role in new fossil fuel infrastructure

Trade associations or other industry-funded nonprofit groups representing the interests of these companies, utilities, or cooperatives.

Any new entity meant to advance the message or goals of the above companies or groups, while obscuring or hiding their financial contributions.

Any marketing that promotes fossil fuel companies or products.

Fossil fuel advertising can also include:

• Travel that is powered by fossil fuels such as planes or cruise ships
• Vehicles with internal combustion engines
• Hydrogen and any form of gas that is mainly created with fossil fuels. 

Members can display their membership badge, which lets everyone know they are ethical and responsible – and prioritise the climate in their work.

Members will be promoted on Comms Declare’s social channels. They are also official members of our association, which means they can vote at committee meetings and help steer our future direction.

You can become a member, or list on the Clean Directory, or both.

Become a Member

Fossil fuels have historically had benefits. However, we now have cheaper, cleaner forms of energy and must leave fossil fuels in the ground.

• In Australia, fossil fuelled-climate change is leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events like heatwaves, bushfires and floods, posing risks to lives, property, and infrastructure.
• In our region, the burning of fossil fuels is driving a climate crisis that poses serious and existential threats to the Pacific Islands, threatening their people, cultures and very survival. Only by limiting the use of dirty, polluting fossil fuels can we limit these risks.
• Economic modelling shows climate damage will deliver a 14% annual hit to Australia’s economy, wiping out $6.8 trillion between now and 2050.
• Air pollution from burning fossil fuels contributes to the premature deaths of between 2,400-11,000 Australians every year, more than road accidents (1,123 in 2021).
• Air pollution from fossil fuels claims 8.7 million lives globally each year – more than tobacco.

Advertising and sponsorships for coal, oil and gas;

• Increases pollution that damages our health and climate
• Delays cuts to climate pollution and energy diversification 
• Leaves a damaging legacy for our treasured cultural and sporting groups

It’s not just us. The world climate authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says that marketing and lobbying by coal, oil and gas corporations is delaying emissions reduction and has largely set the public agenda about climate change in Australia.

As the world’s third largest exporter of fossil fuels, with one of the highest pollution rates per person in the OECD, Australia has a particular duty to act.

Tell governments to ban fossil fuel marketing – fossil ad ban

Information for lawmakers – clean policies

Comms Declare is a registered charity and is funded by a range of grants, donations and member fees.

The campaign to restrict fossil fuel advertising and sponsorships is mainly funded by the KR Foundation.