You know by now how much I love the law ⚖️ — especially watching how legal 'firsts' start to spark ripples that shift precedent, shape culture, and transform how we live 🌍.
In the Netherlands 🇳🇱, The Hague has made history: it became the first city in the world to ban fossil fuel advertising 🚫⛽.
Think air travel, cruise holidays, petrol cars, gas suppliers - in short, ads that promote an unsustainable lifestyle.
The travel industry (TUI and the Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators) didn’t like it, and challenged the ban in court.
But the court has ruled to uphold the ban ✅
So fossil fuel advertising in The Hague remains illegal.
This landmark ruling opens the door for change across the globe 🌍 — 40 other cities are already considering similar moves.
Wondering why this matters for human rights?
Here's what UN Special Rapporteurs Elisa Morgera and Astrid Puentes Riaño have to say:
“How can we protect our lives, health and economies from the devastating impacts of climate change? … One place to start is to take away the industry’s “megaphone” through which they have been disseminating their false narrative, telling the public that there’s nothing to worry about and selling their harmful products. So this place to start from is: advertisements”
“The public is already paying a heavy price for over a century of burning fossil fuels, not only due to the increasing devastating impacts of climate change, but also due to air pollution that can damage every organ in our body, worsening and complicating pre-existing health conditions, and contributing to approximately over 8 million premature deaths annually worldwide.”
“We have a right to live and the human right to a safe and healthy environment, which includes the right to breathe clean air and the right to a safe climate. These rights allow us to work, play and rest outdoors and support our agriculture and food systems, our housing and infrastructure.”
Hear hear 👏 What’s more important than living in a safe and healthy environment? 🌿💚
Have a great weekend! ☀️
Anna 💫
