Quotes about the local law that bans fossil ads in The Hague (NL)

"Legal arguments against banning fossil fuel advertising are hardly compelling. Advertising is regulated and restricted in many ways. Just think of advertising of tobacco. The same holds for fossil advertising: it can be banned. If anything, legal obligations to limit global warming suggest that fossil advertising should be banned.”

Professor Ingo Venzke (University of Amsterdam) who wrote the article “The Legality of Banning Fossil Advertising” for the European Law Blog

"The decision of The Hague to ban fossil ads by local law is consistent with the climate goals. In our report we conclude that fossil advertising normalizes and promotes unsustainable behavior and discourages sustainable behavior, actively undermining current climate policy. Major government investments are needed to counteract the negative effect of fossil advertising. If fossil advertising is banned, these resources can be better deployed, for example to strengthen sustainable options and facilities such as public transport."

Associate Professor Thijs Bouman (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen), author of the paper “A ban on fossil ads is essential, but other measures are also needed”

“An intercontinental flight, a sea cruise or an SUV alone can use up our fair CO2 budget per capita for an entire year. Advertising for high-emission products tends to increase their sales by awakening supposed needs in consumers. On a cultural meta-level, it also normalises the consumption of environmentally harmful products - although we all urgently need to reduce our lifestyle carbon footprint in order to keep global warming within tolerable limits.

The "City of Peace and Justice" sends a strong signal for sustainability and intergenerational justice - local and media politicians around the world should take a look and reflect on their options for limiting fossil advertising in cities, on television, on platforms and in other media in favour of our children and grandchildren.”

Dr. Uwe Krüger, communications scientist at Leipzig University, and on behalf of the foundation Otto Brenner Stiftung, writer of the report Advertising for climate killers: How TV and YouTube advertising violates the German Interstate Media Treaty

"I first saw the severity of air pollution during my medical training. In the cutting room, we were studying lung tissue. The lungs in front of me were not pretty pink, but downright black. Smoker's lungs, I thought. But this turned out to be incorrect. This person had never smoked, but had lived all his life on the edge of the highway.

How can you expect citizens to contribute to the fight against climate change when they are constantly tempted on the streets by advertisements for polluting activities, such as flight deals to Spain or for driving an SUV? Advertisements that they did not ask for, but which unconsciously influence our behaviour and culture.

Charlotte Hoffman, Physician and PhD student global air pollution

"This is an exciting development in the world-wide movement to stop the promotion of climate pollution. Sixteen Australian councils, including Sydney, have voted for a range of restrictions on fossil fuel ads and sponsorships. I hope this news will spark more to follow here and across the global south."

Belinda Noble, Founder, Comms Declare, Australia

“Hats off to The Hague for becoming the first city to ban fossil fuel ads through local law. It’s a strong move with real impact, and sets a strong example for cities around the world to follow. Brussels, as the EU capital, should be next in line.”

Anuna de Wever, climate justice campaigner, Belgium

“The passing of the Ad Ban is not only a win for the City of Hague but it is also a win for the rest of the world. We at the Ad Ban campaign at Fossil Free South Africa congratulate the city of Hague. We equally encourage other governments especially Africa to follow this great example in truly fighting climate change”

Lazola Kati, Fossil Ad Ban campaign Manager Fossil Free South Africa

"We congratulate The Hague to this important step in the fight against fossil ads! Stopping incentives for climate-harmful consumption is an important step towards climate neutrality. We hope that both Graz (Austria) will soon follow The Hague's example, and that many other cities and municipalities decide for this step too."

Leonhard Rabensteiner, campaigner Werbefrei Austria

“The city of The Hague has declared it is no longer willing to promote its own self destruction by banning in law adverts for the most polluting products and lifestyles. After the hottest summer on record and the huge, rapidly growing health and economic costs of air pollution from burning fossil fuels, this legal move is one of the easiest steps governments can take at the city and national level. When you are in a climate-crisis hole, the simplest thing to do is stop digging and that means not advertising the things that got you in trouble to begin with. Any sensible, responsible authority should follow The Hague’s initiative.”

Andrew Simms, author, analyst and co-director of the New Weather Institute, UK

High carbon ads are polluting our minds and fuelling the climate crises. The decision in Hague to introduce a legal ban on such ads is groundbreaking news and a great step forward in limiting the influence of the fossil fuel industry. Many cities around the world share the same ambition, and the Hague ban will be an important inspiration

Anna Jonsson, co-founder New Weather Sweden.

PRESS COVERAGE

2024:

• Bloomberg: The Hague is world's first city to ban oil and air travel ads
• The Guardian: The Hague becomes world's first city to pass law banning fossil fuel-related ads
• Financial Times: The Hague will become first city to ban fossil fuel ads by law
• RTBF: La Haye sera en 2025 la première ville au monde à interdire la publicité pour les combustibles fossiles (in French)
• France24: The Hague to ban fossil fuel ads
• Reuters: The Hague will ban street ads for fossil fuels from January
• Al Jazeera: The Hague to ban fosisl fuel ads from January
• Carbon Copy: No more fossil fuel ads: The Hague becomes first city to pass binding, local law
• NOS: Gemeente Den Haag verbiedt fossiele reclames in openbare ruimte (in Dutch)
• NRC: Den Haag pakt wereldprimeur: eerste stad ter wereld met verbod op fossiele reclames (in Dutch)
• VRT: Den Haag is eerste gemeente in de wereld die 'fossiele reclames' verbiedt (in Dutch)
• AD: Wereldprimeur: Den Haag komt met verbod op reclames voor vliegreizen en benzineauto's (in Dutch)
• De Volkskrant: Den Haag verbiedt reclame voor vliegvakanties in bushokjes en op tramhaltes (in Dutch)
• Courrier International: La Haye interdit la pub pour les vacances en avion ou les voitures à essence (in French)
• RFI: Comment la publicité peut influencer la transition écologique (in French)
• Riff Reporter: Werbung für fossile Brennstoffe – Den Haag zeigt: Es geht auch ohne (in German)

Up to 2023:

• Omroep West: Nieuwe poging om reclame voor fossiele industrie in Den Haag uit te bannen (in Dutch)
• Omroep West: Veel steun voor Haags verbod op vlieg- en autoreclames: ‘Uniek in de wereld’ (in Dutch)
• NOS: Den Haag verbiedt reclames voor auto’s en vliegreizen in bus- en tramhokjes (in Dutch)
• AD: Den Haag wil geen ‘vieze’ reclames meer in bus- en tramhalte (in Dutch)
• NRC: Den Haag wil stoppen met reclames voor vliegreizen en auto’s in bus- en tramhokjes (in Dutch)
• Volkskrant: Reclame voor benzineauto’s, vliegtuigen en andere vervuilende producten verdwijnt uit Haagse bushokjes (in Dutch)