SOUNDING BOARD: Despite cheaper renewables and mainstream net-zero, emissions are up 65% and extreme weather cost $1.5 trillion last year. With COP30 in the Amazon, the ad industry faces mounting scrutiny over fossil-fuel work and its widening credibility gap.
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climate change
Have 30 years of COP changed the world or just the rhetoric?
big oil
climate action
climate change
Activists call on UN, Brazil to cut Edelman from COP30 over client conflicts
clean creatives
climate action
climate change
edelman
An open letter from more than 60 climate activists challenges Edelman’s credibility as the UN climate summit’s PR lead.
UN recognises power of creativity in driving climate solutions
climate action
climate change
At COP30 in Belém, countries are urged to turn years of pledges into concrete action.
COP30: Adland’s climate moment, ready or not
climate change
climate crisis
environment
sustainability
COP30 opens amid mounting pressure on sectors like advertising to reconcile their climate responsibilities with ongoing fossil fuel ties, testing the summit’s potential for real progress.
Why brands have to be out and proud about the planet
climate change
environment
paul mottram
As the industry gears up for Cannes Lions, Paul Mottram urges brands across Asia to listen closely to consumer voices and respond decisively to the growing demands for action on climate change.
How the industry can move past rhetoric to take on climate change
carbon pricing
climate change
environment
paul mottram
While major agencies and holding companies have floundered in their response to climate activists, a concerted communication strategy around carbon pricing could turn things around, says independent communications consultant Paul Mottram.
Following Trump's lead is a mistake. It's time for agencies to focus on climate
clean creatives
climate change
donald trump
environment
parish agreement
trump
Just like you wouldn’t plan a picnic without considering the weather; agencies that try to plan for the future without considering climate change are risking disaster, says Clean Creatives' Duncan Meisel.
Why brands are scaling back their sustainability commitments
climate change
climate crisis
esg
sustainability
A record-breaking hot year makes COP29's climate finance promises feel dangerously inadequate. Corporate sustainability is crumbling under cost pressures and a "quiet" greenwashing surge.
What will it really take for adland to divest from fossil-fuel clients?
clean creatives
climate change
flist
fossil fuel
sustainability
Financial profit is often attributed as the main reason agencies continue to work with fossil-fuel clients. Experts in the industry argue that stricter regulation and forward-thinking measures are needed to move away from agencies’ over-reliance on fossil fuels.
F-list: Ogilvy and Edelman among those with most contracts with fossil-fuel clients
clean creatives
climate change
fossil fuel
greenwashing
wpp
According to the annual report by Clean Creatives, 219 contracts are split between major holding companies in APAC for clients such as Shell, BHP, and Chevron.
Advertisers grapple with the weight of AI’s environmental impact
advertising
ai
climate change
esg
sustainability
Experts weigh in on why environmental standards around Gen AI have been lacking in advertising and marketing—and why that must swiftly change.
World Wildlife Fund spotlights global climate records in Olympics campaign
climate change
esg
sustainability
wwf
The 60-second spot contrasts the reality that as athletes shatter records at the Games, the world is smashing climate records.
Clean Creatives accuses five B Corp agencies of fossil fuel deals
big oil
clean creatives
climate change
environment
fossil fuel
Clean Creatives names SEC Newgate, Tinkle Communications, Cullen Communications, Edit, and Total Media in a report alleging fossil-fuel ties, but three agencies contest the findings, citing transparency and past disclosures.
Is Asia behind the curve when it comes to making sustainability a priority?
climate change
esg
sustainability
The region most vulnerable to climate change is failing to implement the sustainability regulations needed to combat it, leaving businesses and consumers grappling with a "value-action gap."
Adland's wilful ignorance of the climate emergency cannot last
cannes lions
clean creatives
climate change
environment
fossil fuel
sustainability
Agencies and platforms held sessions about the future at Cannes, all while their work producing ads for the world’s biggest polluters is making that future hotter, more dangerous, and more expensive, says Duncan Meisel of Clean Creatives.
Can marketing reconcile its growth and sustainability goals?
ad net zero
climate change
climate crisis
environment
sustainability
Many CMOs are stuck in the paradigm of growth at all costs. But the concepts of 'green growth' and 'degrowth' to counter traditional profit-making structures are slowly making waves in an attempt to mould climate-responsible corporations.
UN chief calls for ban on fossil fuel ads to combat climate change
climate change
fossil fuels
UN secretary-general António Guterres has directly called for PR agencies to stop working with fossil fuel clients, and ‘acting as enablers to planetary destruction’.
Businesses are no longer trusted on climate change: Edelman report
climate change
Edelman’s latest Trust Barometer surveyed 14,000 people across regions including APAC to understand the public’s perception of the climate crisis.
Why can’t climate change be a laughing matter?
climate change
sustainability
Apple's recent "Mother Nature" spot has shown that eco messaging needn't be worthy or stuffy.
Australia shamed in full-page New York Times ad over climate change inaction
australia
climate change
Bought by The Australia Institute, the full-page advertisement in the New York Times calls upon the country's government to end new fossil fuel approvals and subsidies.
Havas wins Shell's media account, deal sparks backlash as Red Havas loses client
climate change
fossil fuel
greenwashing
havas
havas media
sustainability
Climate campaigners had called on agencies to drop out of the media review, saying PR and advertising firms are aiding oil companies in delaying climate action.
Agencies unite to take action on climate
agencies
climate change
creativity
sustainability
Several comms and creative agencies are joining forces in an Ethical Agency Alliance established by the nonprofit global network Creatives for Climate.
Most UK comms clients not walking the walk on climate change - report
climate change
communications
pr
Two-thirds of clients are jumping on the bandwagon of talking about climate change without doing anything about it, says a report by the UK's PRCA’s Climate Communication Group.
AI paints two futures - climate action or not - for WWF exhibition
ai
climate change
wwf
The series of 20 Romanticism-style paintings uses artificial intelligence to imagine what could happen if society doesn’t act on climate change.
Why no-one will read this article on climate change
climate change
People turn away from climate change because it has an image problem. The solution? Urgent optimism.
Ogilvy reflects on climate solutions through Antarctic expedition
climate change
ogilvy
As you read this, members from Ogilvy APAC are on an Antarctic Climate Expedition along with a diverse global team of 110 citizens. The mission: turn the tipping point of climate change into a turning point.
A view from Dave Trott: New problems need new solutions
advertising
climate change
New solutions are needed for advertising, just like climate change.
It’s time to get intentional with sustainability communications
climate change
communications
esg
sustainability
Even if climate stories are not considered ‘sexy’ by publications, comms professionals have a big role to play, according to a senior consultant at Mutant
Coca-Cola sponsors COP27: Buying its way into ESG or a chance for real change?
climate change
coca cola
sounding board
sustainability
SOUNDING BOARD: By cashing in on Coca-Cola's cheque, is COP27 inviting conversation and giving an opportunity for reflection or is the climate change summit becoming a part of the greenwashing problem?
The industry’s two-faced stance on climate change
climate change
Agencies are working to make their own operations sustainable but they remain committed to working for fossil fuel clients.
Project Everyone pushes world leaders to achieve the UN’s Global Goals
climate change
The campaign by Accenture Song UK asks world leaders attending the UN General Assembly in New York this week to do their part in creating a sustainable world.
Patagonia gives away company: Is this real brand purpose?
climate change
environment
retail
sounding board
The apparel-maker made news this week for giving away its US$3 billion company towards climate-change efforts. We ask comms pros if this should set an example for other corporations.
How should the media industry approach decarbonisation?
carbon emissions
climate change
sustainability
Advertisers have started prioritising their media investment with publishers and platforms that are actively decarbonising their media supply. But there are many roadblocks such as buy-in from the industry and measurement.
'Wreck the brief': Creatives protest fossil fuel advertising outside WPP offices
climate change
sustainability
wpp
Activists will be handing out a satirical pamphlet with tips and tricks on sabotaging briefs for fossil fuel clients.
Media industry's pollution equivalent to aviation, study finds
climate
climate change
data
emissions
media
TOP OF THE CHARTS: The internet represents at least 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions—on par with the aviation industry—and contributes to the media industry’s overall emissions.
Apathetic youth raise the temperature on climate crisis
climate change
Latest film from Fred & Farid shows how panic and doom can set in if the next generation stops caring about the planet. So why doesn't everyone care?
Are social platforms complicit in climate-change misinformation?
climate change
facebook
fossil fuel
linkedin
social media
twitter
Online platforms continue to rely on fossil-fuel companies for paid advertising, even as they roll out policies against climate-change misinformation. Where should the line be drawn?
Why Jennifer Lawrence’s character in ‘Don’t Look Up’ should be media-trained
climate change
netflix
pr
PhD student Kate Dibiasky was labelled as an alarmist and one to cause hysteria in the Netflix film. The storytelling director from PR agency Vero has some advice that perhaps could have led to the world being saved.
Agency talent willing to leave agencies that work with fossil-fuel clients
clean creatives
climate change
fossil fuel
If research shows that people are hesitant to work with clients that don’t align with their values, how are agencies managing differing moral choices among employees?
Campaign asks: How comfortable are you working on fossil-fuel accounts?
climate change
fossil fuel
SPOT SURVEY: Agency talent are increasingly vocal about working on ‘problematic’ accounts. But do they feel safe speaking up? Do agencies give employees a choice? We’d like to hear from you.
Why do so many agencies continue to work with fossil-fuel companies?
clean creatives
climate change
fossil fuel
The devastating impact of fossil fuels to our planet is undeniable—yet a majority of agencies continue to promote and sustain the ‘dirty energy’ sector with no immediate sign of backing away.
Reductive COP26 comms did nothing to convey urgency or transformation needed
china
climate change
india
transformation
India and China’s watering down of the Glasgow climate pact has not been the only disappointment of COP26; another legacy of the conference is the continuing failure of communications to drive change.
Expecting the worst: How brands can embrace pessimism following COP26
climate change
climate crisis
environment
sustainability
The upbeat words and images brands are using around the climate crisis are increasingly out of sync with the public mood. It's time for marketers and agencies to embrace a more activist stance while still conveying optimism.
Is 'Ad Net Zero' possible in Asia-Pacific?
advertising
apac
climate change
marketing
sounding board
sustainability
SOUNDING BOARD: We ask marcomms leaders how the region can keep pace with the heightened interest in sustainability in the absence of an initiative like the UK's 'Ad Net Zero'.
Can China's Double 11 be more sustainable in the age of climate chaos?
china
climate change
Attitudes in China are shifting and much of this is coming from the younger generations, and China’s biggest e-commerce conglomerate Alibaba is touting this 11.11 as its greenest festival yet.
Four in five ad agencies prepared to reject work with clients that lack sustainability ambition
agencies
climate change
climate crisis
emissions
research
sustainability
Just over 20% of agencies taking part in a survey said they are already turning down work.
WaterAid animations reveal devastation of climate change in words of those affected
animation
climate change
Campaign, created by Don’t Panic, contrasts sometimes flippant attitudes with reality of life in Malawi, Nepal and Tanzania.
The Malaysian artist who ‘paints without a brush’
climate change
inspiration station
malaysia
INSPIRATION STATION: Red Hong Yi has been making waves with stunning, thoughtful pieces using everyday objects.
Iris unveils policy to incentivise clients to fight climate change
climate change
environment
sustainability
Other agencies within the Cheil Worldwide network (Cheil, Barbarian, BMB and McKinney) have also pledged to join the initiative.