Why are some cities banning fossil fuel ads?

How much does advertising influence what we buy and how we think? In recent years, a growing number of cities have begun restricting adverts for fossil fuel products, from flights and petrol cars to gas heating. From May, Amsterdam is set to become the first capital city to do so. In 2024, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to introduce similar bans worldwide.

In this episode of The Climate Question, Jordan Dunbar explores how this movement began, what it looks like on the ground and whether it can make a meaningful difference when it comes to climate change.

He speaks to Marco Silva from BBC Verify about the role advertising plays in shaping public attitudes, and the concerns around greenwashing, where companies present themselves as more environmentally friendly than they are. Fossil fuel adverts are widespread, from sports sponsorship to social media, and critics argue they help normalise continued dependence on high-carbon products.

From the Netherlands, BBC correspondent Anna Holligan explains how one of the most far-reaching bans has been introduced in The Hague, removing adverts for flights, fossil fuel energy and petrol cars from public spaces.

Supporters say these measures are not about changing behaviour overnight, but shifting what is seen as normal and acceptable over time. Critics argue the bans are little more than virtue-signalling, attacking legal and economically vital products while failing to address climate change itself.

Guests:
Anna Holligan – BBC correspondent in The Hague
Marco Silva – Senior journalist, BBC Verify

Got a question or comment? email us at theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Production team: Grace Braddock, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Melanie Stewart-Smith
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and James Piper
Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown
Editor: Simon Watts

Picture: Getty Images