Civic group urges ban on advertising, sponsorships for fossil fuel firms

The European Commission registered a European citizens’ initiative entitled Ban Fossil Fuel Advertising and Sponsorships. It proposed limitations for all firms in the sector and even for vehicles that use oil products.

A civic organization called on the European Commission to propose legislation banning advertisement and sponsorship for fossil fuels, for all types of vehicles using those fuels (excluding the vehicles dedicated to transport services of general economic interest) and for all undertakings that extract, refine, produce, supply, distribute, or sell any fossil fuels.

The group, called Ban Fossil Fuel Advertising and Sponsorships, won the status of a European citizens’ initiative (ECI). It proposed for the ban to be applied both offline and online and cover advertising and sponsorship notably in the context of sport, education, science, public events and third-party media events.

The organizers clarified that the fossil fuel products concerned include oil, fossil gas and coal.

Next step is to collect one million signatures

As the European Commission determined the ECI is legally admissible, it decided to register it. If the group collects one million signatures within one year from at least seven member states, the commission is obligated to decide whether to follow the request and explain its reasoning.

The proposed ban would apply for vehicles in air, road and water-borne transportation

The European Union’s executive body so far registered 79 ECIs and refused to register 26 that did not satisfy the conditions.

Tobacco parallel

The Ban Fossil Fuel Advertising and Sponsorships group said it wants a ban for advertisement for fossil fuels and firms as well as vehicles in air, road and water-borne transportation and compared the sector to tobacco and bans related to it.

“This legislation would increase public awareness of products and technologies that are responsible for climate change and other environmental and health harms. As such, it would pursue objectives that are envisaged by the EU environmental and consumer protection policies, via the harmonisation of rules on fossil fuel advertisements and sponsorships,” it wrote.