ADVERTISING LAWS

France bans fossil fuel adverts, but enviro groups still unhappy

By our News Team | 2022

Sponsorships and certain other forms of marketing are still permissible in spite of the ban, Greenpeace and other activist groups complain.

Last month, France became the first country in Europe to ban fossil fuel advertisements. But now some of the activist groups that have been calling for such restrictions are not happy.

They claim there are too many loopholes in the legislation and that there is still extensive scope for greenwashing by the companies involved.

Advertising Laws

Photo by Engin Akyurt from Pexels

“You will read everywhere that advertising for fossil fuels is now prohibited, but that’s not true,” Greenpeace France tweeted. “Ads for gas can continue [and] patronage, sponsorship, institutional communication and financial advertising on fossil products remain authorised.”

“This is not a law that is going to bring about change,” warned François Chartier, a Greenpeace campaigner, in an interview with The Times of London.

French-based energy company Total, for example, will still be sponsoring the 2023 Rugby World Cup. It has a significant international viewing audience and the previous tournament attracted a TV viewership of almost 900-million.

French supermarkets may not advertise cheap petrol

According to The Times report, under the new French law, supermarket chains cannot run advertisements for cheap petrol, for instance. And advertisements for natural gas will be banned from the beginning of next year.

“The initial proposal by the climate convention was to outlaw any form of advertising by oil companies,” the newspaper said. “In practice, the measure has been scaled back. Some advertising will be permissible for fuels that have some renewable energy content or adhere to certain criteria.”

Meanwhile, greenwashing experts in the UK seem to agree that stronger legislation around fossil fuel advertising is required.

“According to legal and regulatory standards, environmental claims in advertising must match scientific evidence. Often, this is as much about what adverts don’t say as what they do say,” wrote Johnny White, a lawyer from Client Earth and Jonathan Wise, co-founder of Purpose Disruptors, in the marketing industry publication, The Drum.

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.