Model proposal to change the ordinance/local law to ban fossil ads in municipalities

Below is a model proposal for municipalities for a ban on fossil ads through a change in the local ordinance/local law. This is the quickest, most effective, most consistent and most affordable way to ban fossil ads from the public sphere.

This local law can take effect almost immediately, will concern all advertising operators at the same time (level playing field) and it will prevent claims from advertising operators. Also, it a clear signal to citizens in the municipality to ban all high carbon ads at the same time.

The initiative proposal is an alternative to a motion (see the model motion).

• In The Hague, the Netherlands, an initiative proposal was accepted September 2024: find an (unofficial) translation to English here.

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Model proposal for the counsel to ban fossil advertising by changing the ordinance/local law

The city council of the municipality of [Name of municipality], in assambledge on [date], considering the proposal of [name city counsel + party].

Decision:

To prohibit fossil advertising in the public spaces of [Name of municipality]
Adding the following paragraph in the ordinance under [number of article]:

Fossil advertising: as advertising by or for the fossil fuel industry (companies and interest groups in the coal sector and/or oil and gas sector), the aviation sector and fossil products and services (fossil fuels, airline holidays, airline tickets, electricity contracts that offer more than, gas contracts, cruise travel and cars, motorbikes, mopeds and scooters with a fossil or hybrid fuel engine).

Adding the following paragraph in the [ordinance/local law] under [number of article]:

Fossil advertising that is visible from a place accessible to the public, is prohibited, unless they consist of:

a. company names, company logos and advertisements on or in the immediate vicinity of the premises where the activities to which the advertising refers take place;

b. road signs in business parks;

To add the following enumeration to [number of article] to the [ordinance/local law] under [number paragraph] of [number articles] about penalty provision and penalty provision administrative fine.

To make this ordinance effective by [..month.. ..day..] 2023.

To instruct the city council to amend the current policy it has adopted in accordance with this proposal.

To instruct the [alderman/mayor/city government] to inform the operators of advertising media in [name municipality] of the amendment to the [ordinance/local law] and the municipal advertising policy in order to ban fossil advertisements at bus, tram and metro stops and free standing advertising display cases and billboards. Operators get six months to prepare for regulatory changes.

To urge the [federal government/national government] to achieve a nationwide ban on fossil advertising and sponsorship. The nationwide ban applies not only in outdoor spaces, but also in any online and offline public space such as media and social media.

To request the [alderman/mayor/city government] to communicate to the council by [date] about the progress of the mentioned actions as well as any other estimable (financial) consequences

Adopted in the public council meeting of [date]

[signed by]

*mining companies whose main business is the extraction or sale of coal, oil or gas.