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UN chief wants tobacco-style ban on fossil fuel advertising
By Mike Foley
Fossil fuel advertising must be outlawed just as tobacco promotion was banned half a century ago, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has said.
Gutteres accused the industry of misleading the public and hiding the impacts of coal, gas and oil pollution on human life.
Fossil fuels are responsible for thousands of deaths each year in Australia, and millions of deaths worldwide.
United Nations chief António Guterres called advertising companies with fossil fuel clients the “enablers to planetary destruction”.Credit: AP
Health experts backed Guterres’ call, but energy companies said fossil fuels would continue to play an essential role around the world for decades to come.
He called advertising companies with fossil fuel clients the “enablers to planetary destruction” and accused coal, gas and oil companies of profiting from people’s suffering.
“Many in the fossil fuel industry have shamelessly greenwashed, even as they have sought to delay climate action with lobbying, legal threats and massive ad campaigns,” Guterres said in a speech to mark World Environment Day on Wednesday.
“Climate change is the mother of all stealth taxes paid by everyday people and vulnerable countries and communities.
“Meanwhile, the godfathers of climate chaos – the fossil fuel industry – rake in record profits and feast off trillions in taxpayer-funded subsidies.”
Public health physician Professor Fay Johnston, of the Hobart-based Menzies Institute for Medical Research, said at least half of the 2600 annual Australian deaths caused by fine particles known as PM 2.5 particles were due to fossil fuels. The particles are released by burning coal and oil and can infiltrate the respiratory system.
Air pollution from fossil fuel consumption causes 4.5 million premature deaths a year around the world, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
Johnston said fossil fuel pollution can cause respiratory harm and increase the prevalence and severity of heart attacks.
“If you breathe in air with particles and you’re already at high risk of a heart attack … it can tip the balance and cause you to have a heart attack.”
Fossil fuel pollution is also driving global warming, which increases the frequency and intensity of bushfires that spew millions of tonnes of smoke into the air. Johnston said 4000 people were admitted to hospital due to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
The UK banned cigarette advertising in 1965 and the US in 1971. Australia phased out advertising between 1973 and 1976.
“Just like every cigarette is doing us damage, every time we burn coal, oil and gas we are damaging our health as well,” said Doctors for the Environment executive director Dr Kate Wylie.
She said roughly 11,000 deaths a year in Australia are caused by traffic-related air pollution, generated by petrol and diesel fuel.
“People used to smoke in hospitals. Once people used to smoke on planes and now that’s considered laughable. We have the same situation where we have these extreme health concerns and our governments need to stop fossil fuel companies peddling their dangerous products,” Wylie said.
France banned fossil fuel advertising in 2022. That same year, the City of Sydney voted to block promotions of coal, oil and gas on its properties and at its events.
The Albanese government did not respond directly to Guterres’ call to ban advertising, but Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the government was committed to cutting emissions to reduce the health effects of fossil fuels.
“We know reducing emissions is good for our health, as well as our economy and climate,” Bowen said.
However, the government has been criticised by climate action advocates for its recently released future gas strategy, which said the fossil fuel would be needed in Australia until 2050 and warned that forecast shortfalls showed supply from new gas fields was needed to fill the gap.
Australian Energy Producers, which represents the oil and gas industry, said fossil fuels would be needed throughout the energy transition to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
“The oil and gas industry is one of Australia’s most important sectors, delivering energy security for millions of homes and businesses, jobs for tens of thousands of Australians,” said the organisation’s chief executive, Samantha McCulloch.
The federal government says fossil fuel will be needed in Australia until 2050.Credit: Bloomberg
A spokesperson for Australian energy giant Woodside said the company was proud to promote its business.
“Our social contribution, including sponsorships and support to grassroots community groups and organisations, amounted to $33.3 million globally in 2023.”
Climate advocacy organisation Comms Declare, which represents 100 advertising and conservation companies, backed Guterres’ call for the communications industry to ditch fossil fuel clients.
“Stopping fossil fuels begins with stopping fossil fuel ads and sponsorships,” said Comms Declare chief Belinda Noble.
The Victorian government approved on Thursday the state’s first new gas project since 2014, giving the green light to Beach Energy for an offshore field near Port Campbell.
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