UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made a scathing attack on the global fossil fuel industry, describing them as the “Godfathers of climate chaos” that has put the world off course to keep average global warming below the aspirational Paris climate target of 1.5°C.
“Our planet is trying to tell us something, but we don’t seem to be listening,” Guterres said in a landmark speech.
“Like the meteorite that wiped out the dinosaurs we are having an outsized impact. In the case of climate, we are not the dinosaurs, we are the meteor. We are not only in danger, we are the danger. But we are also the solution.
“The truth is almost 10 years since the Paris Agreement was adopted the target of limiting long term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is hanging by a thread. The truth is, the world is spewing emissions so fast that by 2030 a far higher temperature rise would be all but guaranteed.”
The UN chief blamed decades of lies and climate action sabotage by the fossil fuel industry and its political and PR operatives for the state of the planet, and the likelihood that the world will bust its carbon budget by 2030.
“Brand new data from leading climate scientists releases today shows the remaining carbon budget to limit long term warming to 1.5 degrees is now around 200 billion tones,” he said.
That is the maximum amount of carbon dioxide that the Earth’s atmosphere can take if we are to have a fighting chance of staying within the limits. And the truth is we are burning through the budget at reckless speed spewing out around 40 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year.”
“We can all do the math. At these rates the entire carbon budget will be busted before 2030.”
“The truth is, global emissions need to fall 9% every year until 2030 to keep 1.5 degree limits alive. But they are heading in the wrong direction. Last year, they rose by 1%”
Guterres singles out advertising companies for complicity in driving catastrophic global heating
Guterres put a laser focus on the advertising industry for their role in driving the expansion of fossil fuels and climate chaos. Guterres attacked fossil-fuel firms for “distorting the truth, deceiving the public and sowing doubt” about climate science and demanded public relations and media companies to cut ties with oil, gas and coal.
I call on advertising & PR companies to stop acting as enablers to planetary destruction by working for the fossil fuel industry.
Stop taking on new fossil fuel clients & set out plans to drop your existing ones.
They are poisoning our planet & they are toxic for your brand. pic.twitter.com/IWZiZubMOd
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) June 6, 2024
“Many in the fossil fuel industry, have shamelessly greenwashed even as they have sought to delay climate action with lobbying, legal threats and massive ad campaigns,” he said.
“And they have been aided and abetted by advertising and PR companies. Madmen fuelling the madness.” said Guterres referring to Madmen the TV series about a sociopathic advertising executive.
“I call on these companies to stop acting as enablers of planetary destruction. Stop taking on new fossil fuel clients from today and set out plans to drop your existing ones.
“Fossil fuels are not only poisoning our planet, they are toxic for your brands. Your sector is full of creative minds who are already mobilising around this cause. They are gravitating towards companies that are fighting for our planet, not trashing it.
UN demands government ban fossil fuel advertising
The Secretary General has called for a “tobacco style” restrictions on promotions for coal, petroleum and gas.
“Many governments restrict or prohibit advertising for products that harm human health, like tobacco,” he said. “I urge every country to ban advertising from fossil-fuel companies. And I urge news media and tech companies to stop taking fossil-fuel advertising.”
Belinda Noble, who runs Comms Declare and Fossil Ad Ban, has been campaigning for a fossil fuel advertising ban in Australia for many years, this includes for petrol and diesel vehicles. She welcomed the UN Chief calling out the advertising industry’s complicity in driving the climate crisis.
“Australia has a proud legacy of being a world leader in banning tobacco advertising. We must now do the same with coal, petroleum and gas,” said Noble.
“Any government that continues to allow fossil fuel advertising is putting industry profits ahead of our future, and any agency or media outlet that enables climate pollution is complicit in the destruction of a stable climate.
Noble says to date, fossil fuel advertising bans are being lead by local government rather than at a state of federal level.
“Sixteen Australian councils, including the City of Sydney, have voted to restrict fossil fuel ads and sponsorships on community land and we ask that others now follow.”
“Stopping fossil fuels begins with stopping fossil fuel ads and sponsorships.”
Transport sector set to become biggest emitter yet fossil car advertising is still legal
While the Australian government has confirmed that transport will be the biggest emitting sector by 2030, yet the fossil car industry is still allowed to advertise their planet wrecking products.
Last year the Australian fossil car industry spent $661 million on advertising. That works out to an average of over $500 per vehicle sold. In the US, the fossil car industry spends a get wrenching $12 billion per year manipulating people to by their toxic cars.
And a recent report from Comms Declare shows that advertising spend on fossil cars is growing.
Over the longer term, the report found that spend on advertising SUVs has increased by 59% since 2010 coinciding with a 188% increase in sales resulting in SUVs now making up 56% of the light vehicle market compared to just 22.7% in 2010.
Comms Declare says money spent on light commercial vehicle (LCV) advertising jumped a whopping 342% over the same period.
And legacy car companies are showing little real interest in boosting EV sales with advertising of low emissions vehicles (EVs, hybrids and micro cars) falling by 38% since 2010.
As long as fossil car companies are allowed to spend billions on advertising manipulating people into continuing to purchase fossil cars over electric alternatives and public transport, trying to reduce road transport emissions is like fighting with both hands tied behind your back.
Guterres praises activists, journalists and whistleblowers for exposing fossil fuel tactics
The UN Chief also gave praise to those who have been tirelessly working to expose the fossil fuel industry’s deceitful tactics.
“We must directly confront those in the fossil fuel industry who have shown relentless zeal for obstructing progress over decades. Billions of dollars have been sown at distorting the truth, deceiving the public and sowing doubt.”
“And I thank the academics and the activists, the journalists and the whistleblowers who exposed those tactics, often at great personal and professional risks.”
“I call on leaders in the fossil fuel industry to understand that if you are not in the fast lane to clean energy transformation you are driving your business into a dead end and taking us all with you.”
Call to action
“This is an all in moment.” said Guterres concluding his speech.
“And the United Nations is all in, working to build trust to find solutions and to inspire the cooperation also desperately needed.
“And to young people, to civil society, to cities, regions, businesses and others who have been leading the charge towards a safer, cleaner world I say thank you.
“You are on the right side of history. You speak for the majority. Keep it up. Don’t lose courage. Don’t lose hope.
“It is we the people versus the polluters and the profiteers. Together, we can win. But it’s time for leaders to decide whose side they’re on. Tomorrow, it will be too late.
“Now is the time to mobilise. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to deliver. This is our moment of truth.”
Daniel Bleakley is a clean technology researcher and advocate with a background in engineering and business. He has a strong interest in electric vehicles, renewable energy, manufacturing and public policy.