Over 450 climate scientists back initiative calling out dirty advertising

New York, New York - Over 450 scientists banded together to demand an end to misleading or confusing advertising that could downplay the extreme severity of the climate crisis.

The group of scientists wants ad companies to protect the planet over profits.
The group of scientists wants ad companies to protect the planet over profits.  © IMAGO / VWPics

In a letter from the Clean Creatives project, the group of scientists called on PR teams and ad strategists to quit supporting the very companies guilty of polluting the planet.

The initiative and the scientists clearly position themselves against ads and marketing that support the fossil fuel industry, and push for agencies to take climate action by getting rid of the ad campaigns run by fossil fuel companies or firms that are invested in them.

The project also includes a handy and detailed explanation of exactly which kind of companies shouldn't benefit from ad campaigns.

They also have a list of specific companies to avoid, which should make it easier for agencies to actually take action on what Clean Creatives and the project's supporting scientists want.

Unsurprisingly, coal and gas companies and organizations associated with those fossil fuels are heavily featured on the list, and there is even a list of marketing firms that work for the fossil fuel industry.

Knowing who's who in the ad campaign scene could be a useful tool for agencies looking to distance themselves from businesses that are actively contributing to climate change with disinformation, like ads touting "blue" hydrogen as a renewable energy source. In reality, blue hydrogen is anything but renewable, but there is a green alternative.

To put it simply, advertising and public relations campaigns for fossil fuels must stop while there is still time to solve the climate crisis.

Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

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