In a groundbreaking move, UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for a ban on advertisements for coal, oil, and gas, urging governments and companies to stop promoting fossil fuels. Guterres accused energy companies of distorting the truth, deceiving the public, and sowing doubt about the climate crisis through massive ad campaigns.
Despite this call to action, major news and tech media outlets that run fossil-fuel ads have largely remained silent. Only two out of 11 organizations contacted by The Guardian responded to Guterres’s plea, highlighting the reluctance of media companies to address the issue.
The debate around fossil-fuel advertising in the media has been ongoing, with some publications like the Guardian, Vox, and Le Monde taking steps to ban oil and gas ads. However, prominent outlets such as the Washington Post, Reuters, and CNN continue to feature fossil-fuel ads, raising concerns about the influence of these advertisements on public perception.
Critics argue that fossil-fuel ads can spread misleading information and undermine efforts to combat climate change. Scholars and journalists have uncovered evidence showing that the fossil-fuel industry has long been aware of the environmental risks associated with their products but chose to conceal this information from the public.
As pressure mounts on media outlets to sever ties with fossil-fuel companies, the industry’s advertising practices are facing increased scrutiny. Advocates for climate action are calling for a complete ban on fossil-fuel ads to weaken the industry’s influence and accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources.