5 Things you can do to stop ads fuelling the climate crisis
Image credit: Adblock Bristol
Sometimes it feels exhausting to live in a world where we’re constantly bombarded by adverts especially when we know that those are promoting a particular lifestyle that is further exacerbating the ecological and climate crises. Advertising is everywhere - populating our streets, filling our newspapers and covering our tv and digital screens. At first glance it might seem like there is nothing one can do about it and we have no choice but to absorb these messages that fuel mass consumerism and planetary breakdown. But on the contrary - there are lots of ways you can take action to stop the spread of high-carbon advertising. Here’s our short practical guide listing 5 key points:
1. Learn more about how advertising damages the climate
Advertising and the climate crisis - how are these related you ask? It might not seem at first glance but corporate advertising has a lot to do with fuelling environmental breakdown. Learning more about the real world impacts of advertising on our planet can open up some really insightful conversations with friends and family members.
It does so in three main ways:
Via continuous pressures to consume more - in particular products or activities that are most damaging to the planet (think flights or large SUV). Several studies have proven how effective advertising is in increasing global consumption levels by reinforcing our materialistic values and normalising highly-polluting lifestyles (some evidence on the cultural impacts of advertising and our own research on advertising’s role in ecological destruction).
Big polluter companies (like fossil fuel giants) curate a socially and environmentally responsible image for themselves that helps keep their business model unchallenged from both public and political scrutiny. Each time big polluting corporations add their names to cultural and sports institutions or when they engage in greenwashing advertising campaigns it confuses and misguides the public about what they really do and reduces our capacity to hold them accountable for their damaging activities (read more about this in Clemens Kaupa’s article in the Journal of European Consumer and Market Law - which we cover in our blog here).
By posing a direct impact to the environment. Digital advertising boards in particular have an extremely high energy consumption and generate carbon emissions by their infrastructure (a single billboard emits as much energy as 37 homes!).
2. Sign our petition to end SUV advertising
Advertising for large polluting cars like SUVs is having a disproportionate impact on the environment. Over the last ten years, the number of large SUVs in the UK has more than doubled. The International Energy Agency reported that SUVs were the only sector to slightly increase its emissions in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite stricter EU emissions regulations for new vehicles, car manufacturers have kept directing greater advertising budgets towards those big gas-guzzling cars (evidence here and here) - in order to boost their profit margins.
Many governments are planning to phase out the sales of ICE vehicles (petrol, diesel and hybrid cars) - in the UK the target is set for 2030 (2035 for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles). But right now we must do everything to stop the sales of new polluting vehicles and avoid those clogging our streets for an average of 6-11 more years - that comes with putting an end to their advertising.
You can take action now by signing our petition urging the UK government to end advertising of the third dirtiest most polluting cars.
3. Ask your local authority to take down the ads
Local authorities have significant powers to act against high-carbon advertising as they have control over several areas such as advertising billboards and screens on council-owned land, advertising policies on vehicles and transport infrastructure and over matters of planning consent for new advertising infrastructure and content.
Over 480 local authorities have declared a climate emergency in the UK (as of November 2020). In order to respect their commitments, they should put an end to the promotion of high-carbon activities and products that are fuelling the climate crisis.
To find out more about how to lobby your local authority on adopting a “low carbon advertising policy” check our policy toolkit. And you can write to your local councillors using our form here.
4. Join a local group
The Adfree Cities network in the UK is campaigning for an end to corporate advertising in our cities so that spaces can be repurposed and reclaimed for community use such as ranging from creative projects, public art to green spaces. There are many groups active across the country - including cities like Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter and South London (Lambeth). You can join an existing group or set up a new one by following the network’s suggestions.
5. Follow our campaign
At Badvertising we’ve got many exciting plans and activities for you to get involved. We are also partnering with allies at the international level and relate their campaign news regularly in our blogs and on social media. Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear about the latest news and exciting projects to get involved in. And follow us on twitter and instagram not to miss any development.
The movement against high-carbon advertising is growing by the day - and you can be a part of it too !