A special rapporteur commissioned by the United Nations published on Thursday has recommended states criminalise media and advertising companies for amplifying disinformation and misinformation by fossil fuel companies, as well as a ban on fossil fuel advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
The imperative of defossilizing our economies cited the role of fossil fuel ads as part of a wider call on governments around the world to limit the fossil fuel industry’s influence.
Elisa Morgera, UN special rapporteur on human rights and climate change, said the report highlighted the fossil fuel industry’s “playbook” of deception and argued for the need for states to “defossilise” information systems.
The report urged advertising companies and big tech platforms to refuse fossil fuel-related promotion and sponsorships, and support public awareness about the benefits of fossil fuel-free lifestyles.
Additionally, it suggested that they should publicly disclose any funding received, as well as the length and purpose of engagement with fossil fuel companies.
Finally, the report called on advertising companies and big tech platforms to collaborate with and support independent media that provides accurate climate information.
Climate Action Against Disinformation coalition communications co-chair Philip Newell added: “This looks to be the first time we’ve seen such a high-level call for the obvious climate solution of not just banning fossil fuel advertisements like tobacco, but also holding industries accountable for disinformation, and media and advertising companies responsible for their role in the harmful spread of false content to sabotage climate action.”
Last year, UN secretary-general António Guterres made a similar call for a worldwide ban on fossil-fuel advertising.
The issue of information integrity is a key talking point at the Bonn climate negotiations commencing on 16 June — a topic that the summit’s president, André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, has expressed is a priority topic for Cop30.
