Why are some cities banning fossil fuel ads?

How much does advertising influence what we buy and how we think?

A growing number of cities are restricting adverts for fossil fuel products, from flights and petrol cars to gas heating. From May, Amsterdam is set to become the first capital city to do so. In 2024, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries to introduce similar bans worldwide.

In this episode of The Climate Question, Jordan Dunbar asks whether banning fossil fuel adverts is a good idea and whether it makes any difference when it comes to fighting climate change.

He speaks to Marco Silva from BBC Verify about the role advertising plays in shaping public attitudes, and Anna Holligan, the BBC's correspondent in The Hague, explains how the restrictions in The Netherlands actually work.

Guests:

Anna Holligan – BBC correspondent in The Hague

Marco Silva – Senior journalist, BBC Verify

Got a question or comment? email us at [email protected]

Production team: Grace Braddock, Diane Richardson, Nik Sindle, Melanie Stewart-Smith

Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell and James Piper

Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown

Editor: Simon Watts

Picture: Getty Images