Fossil fuel companies and broadcasters are working to dilute proposed world-first national restrictions on fossil fuel ads due to come into effect in France at the start of next year.
Fifteen companies and trade associations including oil and gas giant TotalEnergies have proposed a series of amendments to the draft decree, according to public comments and lobbying records obtained by DeSmog.
Several of these requests appeared to have been adopted in a new version of the decree presented to a group of industry representatives, MPs and environmental groups on Thursday, according to a presentation from the meeting also obtained by DeSmog.
“The fossil fuel industry wants to hollow out the ban: fewer communications covered, fewer products and services in scope,” said Clémentine Baldon, a lawyer specialising in environmental law.
France’s plans to restrict fossil fuel advertising grew out of a raft of recommendations adopted by a citizen assembly comprised of 150 people selected by lottery to explore ways to combat the climate crisis in 2020. While some cities — including Amsterdam and Edinburgh — have taken steps to limit fossil fuel advertising, France is the first country to adopt a national ban.
