Oil and gas energy companies have bought up advertising across London’s public transport system, sparking anger over their attempts to influence politicians.

What’s going on?

Environmental news page DeSmog reported on the campaigns. According to its findings, the Public Transport for London (TfL) network has screened over 240 advertising campaigns from major oil and gas companies since Mayor Sadiq Khan established “zero carbon city” target by 2018. That number more than quintuples when including energy providers that still use fossil fuels in their offerings.

In addition, the ads were concentrated in Westminster and St. James’s Park, frequented by Politiciancivil servants and political advisers, DeSmog reports.

This comes at a time when oil and gas companies are already under scrutiny for their misleading advertisingincluding many greenwashing campaigns suggesting that oil is “low carbon” or that clean energy is a higher priority for companies than the really is.

“Many in the fossil fuel industry have shamelessly greenwashed, even as they have tried to delay climate action – with lobbying, legal threats and massive advertising campaigns,” DeSmog quoted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying.

Earlier this summer, Guterres had wanted a global ban on fossil fuel advertising, saying the advertising and PR companies were “enablers of planetary destruction.”

Why is this advertisement harmful?

“These campaigns definitely have an effect on politicians,” Nicholas Cosburn, a former parliamentary aide, said DeSmog. “I think being able to advertise in Westminster station is as close as you can get to being able to advertise in Parliament itself.”

“There is no doubt that advertising has an impact on people’s behaviour, on the image of businesses and has the ability to directly influence decision-makers like myself,” agreed the former London MP (and recent MP). selected) Sian Berry, who branded the campaigns “sneaky”.

While the ads don’t sway politicians — and no one can prove whether or not they do — other environmental advocates are concerned about the message it conveys to voters.

“TfL risks derailing its climate commitments entirely as fossil fuel marketing soaks its network,” DeSmog cited Veronica Wignall from Adfree Cities. “Continuing to allow the fossil fuel industry to broadcast across London’s subways, buses and billboards undermines the Mayor’s climate goals by allowing some of the world’s top polluters to garner public and political support. This support then leads to delayed action, diluted regulation, and more emissions.”

What is being done about these ads?

Opponents of the ads argue that Mayor Khan has already set a precedent for prohibition damaging campaigns pointing to his decision to limit advertising of certain unhealthy foods in 2019. A subsequent Govt. study showed that the caloric intake of these foods in London dropped significantly the following year.

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