Cities Ban Fossil Fuel Advertising
Tuesday, 2026/02/24167 words3 minutes681 reads
Cities worldwide are removing advertisements for flights, SUVs, cruise ships, and petrol cars from their billboards. They hope this will help reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change.
The Hague, a Dutch city, became the first place in the world to ban such advertising through local law in 2024. Other cities have followed, including Amsterdam, Stockholm, and Florence. Amsterdam went even further by also restricting meat advertising.
Robert Barker, deputy mayor of The Hague, explains that it seems contradictory to promote fossil fuels in public spaces while asking citizens to reduce their use. Research shows that advertising normalizes unsustainable behavior and undermines climate policies.
UN Secretary General António Guterres has called fossil fuel advertising "aided and abetted by advertising and PR companies." He urged all countries to ban it completely. The World Health Organization compared fossil fuels to tobacco, noting both harm public health. While some travel companies challenged The Hague's ban in court, a judge ruled it could help combat climate change and was properly justified.
