Taking Demand Reduction Seriously - Badvertising event in Liverpool, 23 September 2024

With Labour Party conference taking place in Liverpool from 22 - 24 September 2024, join our public event to discuss climate policy solutions for a just and sustainable world.

Event: Taking Demand Reduction Seriously
Monday 23rd September, 6pm - 7pm
Film Studio Room, @ LMA, Liverpool city centre (Metquarter, 35 Whitechapel, Liverpool, L1 6DA)

Free to attend and open to members of the public.

While the UK has made important advances in reducing emissions on the ‘supply-side’, most notably through greening electricity generation, both the IPCC and UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) have repeatedly stated the urgency of shifting citizens’ behaviours to drive emissions cuts.

Yet doing this in a way that is just, equitable and reduces the risk of political backlash is a fraught endeavour. If this Labour government is to deliver on its climate commitments, it must take demand reduction seriously.

The event will include policy discussions on:

  • City councils including Edinburgh and Sheffield have introduced measures to ban adverts for high carbon products including non-electric cars, SUVs, airlines, airports and fossil fuel companies on council-controlled ad sites.

  • A frequent flyer levy would increase the tax paid on each consecutive flight taken by passengers per year - both reducing emissions, allowing one tax free flight per year and increasing tax revenues for the public purse.

  • Municipalities in France and Switzerland have taken steps to reduce billboard advertising in public space - characterising it as ‘visual pollution’.  Councils in England have introduced stronger planning policies to limit the spread of new large digital advertising screens.  

Confirmed Speakers

  • Sam Hunter Jones (Client Earth) on their successful court case against the Conservative government’s Net Zero strategy and the need for government policies on demand reduction 

  • Cllr Minesh Parekh on Sheffield City Council’s Advertising & Sponsorship Policy which bans adverts for high carbon products 

  • Alethea Warrington (climate charity Possible) on how a frequent flyer levy and private jet tax could cut emissions in a way that is fair, equitable and has public support.

  • Julia Williams on her first hand experience of living next to a large digital advertising screen in Dagenham and the need to strengthen planning regulations to better protect neighbourhoods and our public spaces 

Chaired by Robbie Gillett (Adfree Cities & Badvertising)

 

Cross party support for fossil-fuel advertising bans with Sheffield Councillors Ruth Milsom and Minesh Parekh (Labour, Sheffield City Council) and Cllr Ewan Tomeny (Green, Wirral Council)

Article in the Sheffield Telegraph and Sheffield Star calling for restrictions on harmful and intrusive outdoor advertising, 3 October 2024

 
Robbie Gillettaviation, frequent flyer levy, Adfree Cities, Liverpool