Advertising for combustion engines will soon be banned in this city
Advertisements for the latest cars, motorcycles, etc. will soon have to disappear from the cityscape of The Hague. It is the first city in Europe to ban advertising for vehicles with combustion engines. The city council voted in favor of this decision after two years of debate. The deadline is January 1, 2025.
Combustion engines disappear from car advertising
As the online magazine Automobilwoche reports, this is not a complete ban for manufacturers. They are allowed to continue to promote their brand quality, but no vehicle with a combustion engine may be featured or shown. Advertising messages for electric vehicles are exempt from the ban. The application was submitted by the Dutch environmental initiative “Reclame Fossielvrij”. The organization hopes for a “snowball effect” that will lead to similar resolutions in other cities.
Other cities discuss advertising ban
Even before the decision, The Hague was not the only city in the EU to consider such a ban. The Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Zwolle and Tilburg are also discussing such a regulation. The Austrian city of Graz is also considering a ban on advertising for combustion engines – as well as for services related to fossil fuels.
Local decision eases regulation
What is new in the case of The Hague, however, is that the ban was passed through local jurisdiction. This could set a precedent that makes it easier for other local governments to follow the example of the Dutch city and introduce local regulations themselves, rather than waiting for the relevant decisions at higher levels.
