New Campaign Urges Aussie Agencies To Dump Fossil Fuel Clients
A new local campaign has launched to increase pressure on government bodies and media agencies to remove the advertising of fossil fuels products from public spaces.
The campaign is the work of not-for-profit organisation Comms Declare, which is a group of media and communication companies pushing for the banning of all fossil fuel advertising in Australia.
Although exact numbers are vague, it’s estimated that the major oil and gas companies spend around $150 million on advertising annually in Australia.
The first of the Comms Declare billboards has just appeared in Melbourne’s CBD.
The group claims that fossil fuels are the main driver of global warming and air pollution which contributed to some 8.7 million deaths a year globally — a number higher than the death rate from tobacco, so fossil fuels advertising should be restricted as tobacco ads are.
Comms Declare also has the support of a number of medical bodies including the Australian Healthcare and Hospital Association, the Australasian Epidemiological Association and Doctors for the Environment Australia.
The campaign also includes an open letter signed by 195 healthcare professionals, including surgeons, general practitioners, nurses and professors of public health from Australia’s major universities, to the prime minister and the country’s mayors calling on state and federal governments to ban all fossil fuels advertising.
Belinda Noble, founder of Comms Declare, said: “Australia was a world leader in restricting tobacco advertising for the public good, and we can stop the promotion of high-emission products for the same reason.”
Noble added that the new Albanese government had an opportunity to ban dirty energy ads as “an obvious next step … to acknowledge the significant health impact climate change is already having on our children and community”.
The Comms Declare initiative follows last month’s Cannes awards that was overshadowed by a number of Greenpeace protests during the week-long event declaring “No awards on a dead planet“.
In a number of European countries, regulators have started to introduce restrictions on fossil fuels advertising including in The UK, France and the Netherlands. Curbs are being debated in the United States, Sweden and Canada.
In June last year, some 250,000 people signed a European Citizen Initiative to ban fossil fuel ads and sponsorships in the region.
In April this year, Melbourne’s Yarra City Council became the first Australian council to ban all fossil fuel advertising.
Mayor of Yarra Sophie Wade said at the time: “At this week’s council meeting, Yarra City Council unanimously passed a motion declaring that the Council does not support the advertising of companies involved in the production or supply of fossil fuels on Council property.”
Belinda Noble added: “We applaud Yarra City Council for joining cities and countries around the world to stop the promotion of greenhouse gas pollution as part of its net zero commitment.
”Advertising coal, oil and gas serves no purpose other than to increase demand for the products that are driving climate change and harming our community.
“Fossil fuel advertisements and sponsorships mislead consumers about the environmental attributes of dangerous and toxic products, and delays the shift in social attitudes required to urgently transition to cleaner energy,” Noble said.
Latest News
GIO Unveils New “Protect Precious” Brand Positioning & Campaign, Via Ogilvy
GIO has launched a new brand platform via Ogilvy, signifying a new direction for the insurer. With new “Protect Precious” positioning, the campaign takes a fresh approach within a category often operating in moments of disaster. The campaign instead focuses on the deeply personal, sometimes quirky reasons why things are precious, and why those meaningful […]
Digitas & Heckler Singapore Singapore Launch Animated Symphony For Riot Game’s Valorant Champions Tour Pacific
Digitas Singapore, in collaboration with Heckler Singapore, has unveiled an animated universe in the recently launched music video, ‘Undefeated’. This unique creation, produced for the globally popular video game VALORANT and girl group XG, is set to “mesmerise” fans with its “innovative blend” of gaming and music. The ‘Undefeated’ music video serves as a prelude […]
Wavemaker Global CEO Toby Jenner Appointed Global President, GroupM Clients
Toby Jenner, Wavemaker’s global CEO, has been appointed to a newly created role as global president, GroupM clients. This new role will see Jenner assume responsibility for leading GroupM’s global proposition and go to market strategy as well as its growth, marketing, and communications teams and functions. GroupM said the move is designed to “further […]
Fast 10: Mindshare Head Honcho Maria Grivas On Her “Resting Smiling Face”
With her second anniversary as Mindshare’s CEO just around the corner, B&T‘s Greg ‘Sparrow’ Graham caught up with Maria Grivas to learn why giving her staff an extra long weekend leads to better results for clients — as well as her enduringly upbeat demeanour. 1. Mindshare is having a banger of a year with some outstanding […]
Real Home Care Clients & Staff Star In New HammondCare Campaign
Real home care clients and the staff who care for them have starred in a new campaign for home care provider HammondCare, in an effort to show what quality care looks like. HammondCare at Home clients Olga Citroni, 81, of Cabramatta West, and Robyn Vickers, 74, of Hammondville, star in the video and digital campaign […]
Mutinex’s Henry Innis: “I’m Imperfect As A Leader”
Mutinex is one of the hottest startups in the marketing world at the moment with its GrowthOS and DataOS platforms offering brands, agencies and marketers a chance at true dollar-in, dollar-out marketing spend assessment. While its GrowthOS product has been around for a little while, its DataOS product is entirely new. Launched at the end […]
Slew Of Senior Hires At Sparro by Brainlabs & Jack Nimble
Independent digital marketing agency, Sparro by Brainlabs, and creative production agency, Jack Nimble, have announced four new senior hires across the agency group. The appointments follow several significant recent new business wins and product launches. Lead image: Kiki Jones, Morgen Mathews, Lauren Nixon-Smith, Michael Sparkes Kiki Jones joins Jack Nimble as group account director following […]
Initiative’s Fein, Geer, Colter To Depart For Accenture Song
It's great news for Accenture Song, very bad news for the Initiative company card with this triple leaving do.
Pizza Hut Fined $2.5m For Spamming Customers
To be honest, if you're going to spam customers, cheap pizza deals is probably on the low side of the dodgy scale.
Jetstar & Qantas Perception Ratings Soar After Bonza Cancelled Flights, YouGov Finds
This poll is further proof nothing builds a positive brand image like your competitor monumentally f@cking up.
Pedigree Launches AI-Powered Ad Initiative To Give All Dogs A Home, Via Colenso BBDO & Nexus Studios
B&T encourages this dog adoption initiative. And that's despite us barely being able to look after our own selves.
Apparent Launches “All Heart, No hassle” Integrated Campaign For Flight Centre’s Corporate Traveller
Apparent charged with Flight Centre's Corporate Traveller creative. Has avoided any gags about stolen hotel bathrobes.
South African Tourism CMO: ‘We Want Consumers To Experience SA Through The Eyes Of A Child’
B&T chats with South African tourism's Aussie CMO. Admittedly, we had to quickly rectify our Barossa Valley questions.
Market Research Firm TRA Names KFC’s “Look On the Fried Side Of Life” As Australia’s Favourite Ad
A poll of everyday Aussies has revealed our favourite ads. And it'll make difficult reading for the Harvey Norman team.
‘A Big, Big Step In The Right Direction’: Media Buyers React To News Corp’s D_Coded
There was a universal thumbs up for News' D_Coded event. Although there were calls for glitter bombs at the finale.
CommBank Announced As Presenting Partner Of Vogue Codes 2024
Vogue Codes is a top initiative encouraging women into STEM-based careers. All while wearing Jimmy Choos, apparently.
Brad Garbutt Joins OMA As Marketing Lead
Seasoned adlander Garbutt joins the outdoor association. Says he's got the DOOH down pat, but working on the PDOOH.
TV Ratings 15/5/24: Gruen Pulls A Crowd For Aunty As It Enters 16th Season
Although B&T typically shuns predictions, we're expecting big numbers for Peter Dutton's Budget reply speech tonight.
D_Coded panel: ‘If You Are A Marketer Handling Data And Haven’t Spoken To Legal, You’re In Trouble’
This fiery panel was a highlight of Tuesday's D_Coded event. Not that it spilled out into the carpark.
SBS Audio Campaign Tells The Stories Of New Australians, With Multilingual Content Offerings To Assist Migrants
SBS Audio has launched a new marketing campaign for its ‘Australia Explained’ service which supports new migrants to successfully navigate life in Australia and achieve a greater sense of belonging and social cohesion. SBS’s flagship service for new migrants, Australia explained, has launched a multi-platform marketing campaign that reaches into the heart of the migrant […]
Tracker App Launches, Promising Consumers A Read On Brand’s & Products Sustainability Chops
Shoppers can now get access to sustainability information at their fingertips through Tracker, a first-of-its-kind mobile app. The Tracker app centralises sustainability data into a single, easy-to-understand format, helping shoppers make informed choices about the brands and products they support. Shoppers can simply scan the barcode of their favourite supermarket, chemist or department store item […]
Channel Factory Expands Team Across Australia & New Zealand By 20%
Social media agency Channel Factory announces a significant lift in staff numbers. Doesn't thank Tuesday's Budget.
Jaywing Extends Strategy Team Appointing Fran Martin As Senior Brand Strategist
As is often said, you can never have too much strategy. Same can't be said of programmatic & AI.
Tourism Tasmania Taps Broadsheet For Latest “Off Season” Campaign Iteration
Do you like to drape yourself in sheepskin, flannelette & weird, wooly hats? Tasmania in winter is for you.
Netball WA Appoints 303 MullenLowe As Brand Strategy partner
Netball WA appoints 303 MullenLowe for its brand strategy. Any mention of Gina also now strictly forbidden.
RyvalMedia Flies Off With RedBalloon Media Account
Got family or friends working at RyvalMedia? Say ta-tah to shit birthday presents as agency pricks RedBalloon's media.
“First We Get Plastered Then We Fill Your Holes” – Tradies Face Ad Standards Ire
As juvenile as this plasterer's tagline is, it does sound like the plot to most adult films.
ANZ, Lyre’s, Uber, Adam Ballesty & An Australian Of The Year – More Big Names Join Cannes in Cairns, Presented by Pinterest!
Judging by this cavalcade of A-listers set to star in Cairns, a selfie stick is now mandatory for all attendees.
Grab A Sneak Peek At Pinterest’s Special Guests This Cannes in Cairns!
It's another teaser to the awesome talent you can expect in Cairns. Oddly, no sign of the B&T staff barbershop quartet.
M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment’s Steve Martin & Jamie Wynne-Morgan Sign Off From Agency They Set Up
Will Steve and Jamie ape Maurice and Charles with their new agency name? Stay tuned to B&T to find out.
Netflix Has Google & Amazon In Crosshairs With Ad Server Launch
Is your dream weekend Uber Eats & a Netflix binge? More toilet breaks are on the way, as streamer amps up ad offerings.
Boom, Boom, Boom! Get Ready For the Boomtown Bus Whisking You To Cannes in Cairns, Presented By Pinterest In Style!
Worried your hibiscus print kaftan might overshadow things in Cairns? Fear not, as you can see this bus from space.
On The Menu Joins Forces With TBWA\Melbourne To Melt Freezer Shame
This campaign "fights misconceptions about frozen food". Ice-cream, pies, Sara Lee! What misconceptions, B&T asks?
IMAA Announces Digi-Byte Event Featuring Industry’s Top Talent Plus “Immersive” Gaming Competition
The indies fan group unveils plans for its newest event. Says anyone in a WPP running singlet will be refused entry.
Bowel Cancer Revealed As Australia’s Deadliest Creature In New Campaign, Via Ogilvy Health
Does your office have a secret & serial farter? Possibly lure them out with this important bowel cancer campaign.
Who’s In Charge? B&T Reveals The Best Of The Best Industry Association Chiefs!
B&T's acknowledging the 10 very best industry association bosses. Discover if your membership dues are worth it here.