The UN Secretary-General called this week for an end to fossil fuel advertising, giving an international twist to an already existing domestic struggle.
Speaking in New York on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said parts of the oil and gas industry were “shamelessly greenwashing” their activities.
“Many governments have restricted or banned the advertising of products that are harmful to human health, such as tobacco, and some are now doing the same for fossil fuels,” he said.
It’s an approach advocated by NDP MP Charlie Angus, Legislative Assembly Members A bill banning “misleading and deceptive” fossil fuel advertising. The bill would ban marketing that downplays the emissions that cause climate change, Health damage Companies that have ties to the fossil fuel industry or promote fossil fuels in a false, misleading or deceptive manner may be in violation of this law. If found to be in violation of this law, they could be subject to fines or imprisonment.
The bill falls outside the scope of so-called priorities and is unlikely to be debated in the House of Representatives.
The House10:42Ban on Oil and Gas Company Advertisements
In the week that the UN Secretary-General called on countries to ban oil and gas company advertising, New Democrat MP Charlie Angus speaks about the proposed fossil fuel advertising ban, followed by Alberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schultz explaining why the oil and gas industry should be able to tout its environmental credentials.
“The Canadian oil and gas industry has become increasingly provocative and defiant,” Angus told CBC. The House“They’re not doing their part. They’re not going to do their part. And they know they’re burning the planet. They’ve known for a long time.”
California is a major oil and gas producer, but last year it filed a lawsuit alleging that oil companies misled the public about the risks of fossil fuels and is seeking a fund to compensate the state for future climate-related disasters.
“So the simple solution is the same as what we did with big tobacco companies, which is to say, ‘No, what you’re promoting is actually a threat to human health. You’re not offering a solution, so we need to be honest about it,'” Angus told host Catherine Cullen.
Angus also denied claims that the law would result in offenders facing prison time.
“We speak the same language [as anti-tobacco advertising laws] “I don’t think we’ve ever seen a tobacco executive go to jail,” he said.
In Canada, Pathways Alliance, a coalition of major Canadian oil companies, and Enbridge are under investigation by the Competition Bureau over claims made in advertising about their environmental records. Pathways has said it disagrees with the claims, which were first raised by Greenpeace. Enbridge told CBC earlier this year that it would cooperate with the Competition Bureau.
Pathways Alliance did not respond to a request for comment on the UN’s request for an advertising ban.
Angus’ bill has received significant backlash from conservatives across the country and from the oil and gas industry. The federal Conservative Party said the bill Should be defeatedParty leader Pierre Poirievre Promised to abolish “Repeal all Trudeau/NDP anti-energy legislation and free up Canadian energy for our people and the world.”
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Responding to Guterres’ speech, the president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers said the ads were “one way to ensure Canadians are informed about the progress the oil and natural gas industry is making on these important issues.”
“We are proud to strengthen the industry’s efforts to meet the need for safe, reliable, affordable and responsibly produced energy for Canada and the world,” CAPP president Lisa Beighton said in a statement to CBC News earlier this week.
In another interview with CBC The HouseAlberta Environment Minister Rebecca Schultz said she doesn’t agree with comparing oil and gas advertising to tobacco marketing.
“I think that’s a pretty disingenuous comparison,” she said. “We can’t survive without energy, without oil and gas.”
Schultz defended Alberta’s oil and gas industry’s track record in reducing emissions. Government data from May showed Alberta’s emissions remained relatively stable from 2021 to 2022, with emissions from electricity generation declining significantly. Oil and gas emissions remained stable despite rising oil production. Schultz praised the industry’s ability to reduce emissions per barrel and methane emissions.
“If we can’t talk about our energy bounty and, of course, our environmental record, then who is going to step up to meet our energy needs? It’s countries like China and Russia,” she said. “What’s going to happen then is that global emissions are going to continue to grow. We definitely have an opportunity to be part of the solution, not the problem.”
Federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said in a statement to CBC News that he agrees with Guterres that the world is heading for a “climate hell” unless society as a whole takes action.
He touted his government’s proposed caps on oil and natural gas emissions and a pledge to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.
“We’ve all seen [oil and gas company] “We’ve seen advertising that we want to achieve net zero emissions, but we don’t see any follow-through on promises to undertake projects that will reduce emissions and create good-paying jobs,” Guilbeault said.
“Canadians expect our government to make life more affordable for our people while also holding big oil companies accountable for their pollution, and we will continue to do so.”
