Governments should enact tobacco-style restrictions on advertising for coal, petroleum and gas companies, UN Secretary General António Guterres said in New York .
Gueterras called fossil fuels companies the “Godfathers of climate chaos” who have distorted the truth and deceived the public for decades.
“We must directly confront those in the fossil fuel industry who have shown relentless zeal for obstructing progress – over decades," Guterres said.
“I urge every country to ban advertising from fossil fuel companies. And I urge news media and tech companies to stop taking fossil fuel advertising.”
He said many in the oil, gas and coal industries had “shamelessly greenwashed” with lobbying, legal action and massive advertising campaigns.
“I call on these companies to stop acting as enablers to planetary destruction. Stop taking on new fossil-fuel clients, from today, and set out plans to drop your existing ones. Fossil fuels are not only poisoning our planet – they’re toxic for your brand," Guterres said.
Climate communications group Comms Declare has called on governments and media to follow the pleas from the UN and stop fossil fuel advertising.
Comms Declare founder, Belinda Noble said Australia has a proud legacy of being a world leader in banning tobacco advertising - now Australia has to do the same with coal, petroleum and gas.
“Any government that continues to allow fossil fuel advertising is putting industry profits ahead of our future, and any agency or media outlet that enables climate pollution is complicit in the destruction of a stable climate," Noble said.
“Sixteen Australian councils, including the City of Sydney, have voted to restrict fossil fuel ads and sponsorships on community land and we ask that others now follow.
“Stopping fossil fuels begins with stopping fossil fuel ads and sponsorships.”
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