Description
What role can the World Health Organization play in a global convention banning fossil advertising? In the webinar “Tobacco Law for the fossil fuel industry”, a policy expert from the UK, an activist from the Niger Delta, a lawyer from the UK and a doctor from Egypt explored the possibilities. The speakers agreed on the need for a law that sends fossil advertising after the Marlboro man. But they were looking for quicker ways to do this than through the multilateral coordination within the WHO.
The conclusion: banning fossil advertising is best done in countries or regions where the right to health is enshrined in the constitution. The WHO can play an important role in this by researching the effect of fossil advertisements on health and climate damage.
Below is a report of the zoom webinar “A tobacco law for the fossil fuel industry” on Thursday 19 May 2022. The webinar was organised as a civil society side-event prior to the World Health Assembly 2022.
Highlights of webinar
Martine Doppen, moderator and campaigner at Fossil Free Advertising: “As long as fossil advertising continues to invade our public spaces and brains, mass behavioural change will never come in time. Globally, these advertisements cause the extra emissions of about 75 large coal-fired power plants every year. These emissions could have easily been avoided. These ads keeps fossil fuel normal. As long as ads from the fossil, aviation and automotive industries continue to invade our public spaces and brains, massive behavioural change needed for a sustainable future will never come in time.”
Jessica Beagly, policy expert at the Global Health and Climate Alliance (GHCA): “Five years ago I spoke to two experts on the health damage caused by air pollution; one wrote about the fossil industry, the other about the tobacco industry. Both said at the time: ‘Without a ban on fossil advertising, nothing will change’." As a way to implement a fossil ad ban, Jessica points to the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty. This is an international movement in which municipalities and care providers can speak out for restrictions on the fossil industry and for a fair transition. “A ban on fossil advertising is an important part of that.” The Treaty is intended to be implemented worldwide, just like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Ken Henshaw, director of We the People in Nigeria: "One oil barrel leaking destroys the lives of thousands of people, of entire communities. Farmers can no longer cultivate their land, fishermen can no longer fish. And the water that people drink contains the carcinogenic benzene. 900 times more than is safe. Because of all the advertisements in which the fossil industry emphasises what they are doing well for Nigeria, that they are important for the economy, many Nigerians see activists who are fighting the fossil industry as the enemy. As traitors even, who are out to cause the economy to collapse by demanding that oil extraction stops.”
Mark Eccleston-Turner of King’s College London: “A ban on fossil advertising is most likely in countries that have enshrined the right to health in their constitutions.”
Omnia El Omrani, physician in Egypt and youth representative at the European Commission: “Young people in particular see a lot of fossil advertisements. Especially from their perspective, we should actively call for an advertising ban. Because these advertisements not only affect the planet but also people’s health.”
