Description
Werbefrei Austria wrote an open letter to the city council of Graz in April 2022, highlighting the problematic effect advertising has on the (over)consumption of resources. They specifically target climate-damaging products and industries and make the link with other harmful products - like tobacco - that have been banned from making ads.
Easy measure with high impact
Their letter emphasises that banning fossil ads in public spaces ‘can be implemented without effort, cost, or lengthy preparation’. It goes on: ‘Since the products themselves are not banned, but only their ads are stopped, citizens are not restricted.’ Werbefrei Austria also links this measure to the energy crisis: ‘We obviously need a quick solution to our dependency on fossil fuels. The higher price of energy will affect a large part of the population, so the reduction of consumption will also positively reduce costs.’
Recommendations to the city of Graz
Werbefrei Austria is therefore asking their council to implement the European Citizens Initiative on Fossil Ads and Sponsorship measures at the municipal level. They recommend an end to fossil advertising (e.g. cars, air travel, fossil fuel industry ads):
- on all advertising spaces (billboards and digital advertising spaces),
- on and in public transport,
- for television, radio, as well as internet portals of the city council.
As well as an end to fossil sponsorship:
- of sports and other events of any size,
- festivals of any kind,
in the urban area of Graz.
Enhancing existing Graz policy and inspire other municipalities
Werbefrei Austria also links their letter to other municipalities (Graz can set an example) and existing climate policy by the city of Graz: ‘With The Climate Protection Plan Graz, as well as the goal to make Graz climate-neutral by 2040, you have shown you have recognized the urgency and want to act accordingly.’ Werbefrei Austria thus pushes them to incorporate these measures, which the city is currently considering.
Read the entire letter here (in German).
