The Hague Makes History: First City to Ban Fossil Fuel Ads

 The Dutch city of The Hague has become the first in the world to ban advertisements promoting fossil fuel products and carbon-intensive services, Bloomberg reports.

The ban, which takes effect on January 1, 2025, covers a wide range of products and services, including cruise ships, air travel, and fossil fuels.

The decision comes after a call from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for governments to abolish such advertisements, drawing comparisons to the global ban on tobacco advertising that began in the 1960s.

“The Hague wants to be climate neutral by 2030. Then it is not appropriate to allow advertising for products from the fossil industry,” said Leonie Gerritsen, a member of the city council for the Party for the Animals and one of the supporters of the new law.

The Hague, the administrative center of the Netherlands, plays host to several key international organizations including the International Court of Justice and Europol. This precedent-setting move by the city could inspire other cities and governments to follow suit.

“This is a victory for the climate and a powerful statement against the fossil fuel industry,” said Femke Sleegers, coordinator of the Dutch climate action group Fossil Free Advertising, which spearheaded the campaign for the local ban. “This ban sends a clear message that we will not tolerate the continued promotion of products that are destroying our planet.”