Edinburgh Council has banned SUV and cruise ship ads amid a climate crackdown, as it claims the promotion of such products is “incompatible” with its net-zero objectives.
The move, reported in the FT, will see adverts for airlines, fossil fuel powered vehicles and arms manufacturers banned.
Speaking to the FT about the decision, Ben Parker, a Scottish Greens councillor in Edinburgh City Council said it was serious about meeting its 2030 net zero target, and couldn’t “allow council space to be used to promote fossil fuel companies”.
Campaign magazine has reported that bodies including the Advertising Association and Outsmart bodies have criticised the decision, centring on the argument that advertising brings in revenue to councils that can help them to enact positive changes.
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The move follows on from similar ad crackdowns across the country in areas including Sheffield (which saw a range of products including vapes, fossil fuel powered cars and unhealthy food products) banned from being advertised , Bristol, Liverpool, and Somerset.
It also comes after a series of landmark decisions from the ASA, including a first-of-its-kind ban on environmental grounds for a Toyota SUV ad.
The ad featured two SUVs driving on a rocky road in a Savannah-style landscape, and was deemed by the ASA to condone the use of cars in a way that damaged nature.
Other examples of activism include activists elsewhere spoofing Shell billboards in protest at advertising’s link with the fossil fuel sector.
Within advertising, groups including Clean Creatives have also been calling on members of the advertising industry to sign a pledge not to work with fossil fuel aligned companies.



