In January 2023, the Dutch city of The Hague introduced a first-of-its-kind municipal ordinance banning advertisements for fossil fuels, fossil-powered transport, and the aviation sector in all public spaces, including bus stops, billboards, and other outdoor media platforms managed by the city.
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Shortly after its introduction, the ordinance was challenged by travel companies which argued that the ban was too broad and restricted their commercial interests.
However, in April 2024, a Dutch court ruled that the city of The Hague acted lawfully in introducing the ban. The court recognized the city’s right — and responsibility — to protect public health and the environment, especially in the context of the climate crisis. This ruling not only safeguards the fossil ad ban but also sets a legal precedent for other cities worldwide to follow.
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Why the hell do fossil fuel companies even need to advertise?
They don’t offer anything unique, fuel is fuel. If it’s for home heating or electricity I do t exactly have a choice in who provides It.
If it’s gas for a vehicle I’m choosing whoever is closest when I need gas because everyone is always magocally the exact same price everywhere.
How does advertising even benefit them at all?
Propaganda is a powerful manipulator. Design/ad budgets change how people think about things. Fossil fuel companies should absolutely not be allowed to spend money on ads: that money should go toward climate repititions.
Ban car and meat ads too.
😍😍😍
I hope they do this in the whole country, we’re already getting bombarded enough with those commercials on TV. Don’t need constant reminders about cheap airline tickets on the street…
And internet, where they keep paying “influencers” to repeat oil and gas talking points.
Does this really set legal precedent for cities outside the Netherlands like the article suggests?
Yes. Not precedent as in American law where “they’ve done it this way in the past so we don’t need to think about it again and just copy the previous ruling” but precedent as in other cities have now seen a) it can be done b) how to do it. This makes it easier to do it in their cities. It’s also in a highly influential city when it comes to laws and courts.
legal precedent
This term has quite different meanings, depending where you are.
Does this extend to ads for public transport?
Dutch Railways have fully run on green energy since 2017. AFAIK there are no other train companies running on diesel anymore either. Buses are getting electrified, albeit slowly.
Yes there are trains running on diesel in the Netherlands. Especially in the border areas
But NS (= Dutch Railways) doesn’t right?
Edit: I misinterpreted your comment.
No, NS doesn’t run diesel trains anymore.
It’s not my comment but I figured. I wonder though about the original question; where do they draw the line. So no ads for airplanes and gas stations, obvious, but how about some plastic lunch box or a bus company? What about train tickets where a part of the trip is with a diesel train. Surely the city will not allow something that is questionable at some point.
It’s specifically for fossil fuel companies (so shell, BP etc.), aviation and other fossil fuel powered transportation.
