Description
Västtrafik, the public transport company in the Västra Götaland region, including Göthenburg, is banning fossil ads. This includes ads on approximiately 650 bus stops and all buses, trams, trains and boats. This was announced 14th of January, 2025.
The ad ban includes:
- Advertising for fossil fuels, such as gasoline, oil and coal
- Advertising for cars, boats, mopeds, airplanes and other vehicles powered entirely or partially by fossil fuels
- Advertising for fossil fuel-powered products
- Advertising for air transport
- Advertising for charter travel where the advertiser only offers flights as transportation.
The agreements that are currently in effect will be allowed to expire, but all new agreements must follow these new guidelines.
Not reasonable to advertise negative climate impact
"Carbon dioxide emissions are not decreasing quickly enough, while we in public transport are almost fossil-free. It does not feel reasonable to show advertising for things that obviously contribute to negative climate impact," says Lars Backström, CEO, Västtrafik.
The political leadership in the region justifies the decision by saying that "public transport should not be a platform to promote products that harm our planet" (part of a quote from Jonas Blomster (MP), member of the Infrastructure and Public Transport Committee (IKN) in Västra Götaland).
The decision is a great success for the organizations New Weather and Greenpeace, which have been advocating for such a ban for many years.
Second region in Sweden, after Stockholm
The first in Sweden to decide to stop fossil fuel advertising was Region Stockholm, which from 2026 will not allow advertising for fossil fuel products - but will continue to allow airplane advertising. It is very good that Västtrafik now includes airplane advertising, which is perhaps the most aggressive fossil fuel advertising that many of us encounter. The lure of sun-warmed beaches in the winter darkness makes many people book that flight that helps to melt the snow we miss here at home. Västtrafik is thus setting a new and more ambitious standard for future decisions on fossil advertising.
Västtrafik's decision is also motivated by the fact that emissions are increasing nationally. In recent years, the Swedish government has taken a number of decisions that increase emissions, ranging from reduced taxes on gasoline and diesel to the abolition of the aviation tax.