Dear John,

It’s bleak in all but the weather – another scorching start to May, in fact the hottest start to May since records began. The Climate Change Committee (the government’s independent advisory group on climate change) have stated in a new report that progress to protect the UK from the worst impacts of climate change is "either too slow, has stalled, or is heading in the wrong direction".

So what are fossil fuel companies doing? In 2024, Shell spent 7 times more on oil and gas (over £10 billion) than it did on renewables and earlier this year Equinor announced it was halving its spend on renewables whilst simultaneously pursuing new oil and gas projects. BP have announced plans to prioritise shareholder returns above all else – meaning, you guessed it, a cut to renewable investment and more money going into oil and gas.

I’m calling on the UK government to ban fossil fuel ads and sponsorships – for too long these companies have had largely unlimited £££ to greenwash their filthy reputations in public. Saying one thing and doing another.

Along with Friends of the Earth I want to see the government publish a bold and fair climate plan this year [1]. One that tackles the climate emergency with the urgency required. And includes calling for big polluters like fossil fuel companies to pay for the climate action needed.

We also agree that banning fossil fuel ads and sponsorships could be a crucial part of the solution.

We have just 5 days left to hit 100,000 signatures and force a parliamentary debate, please add your name now and share with your friends and family.

France, The Hague and Edinburgh City Council have all banned fossil fuel ads – it’s not that radical. Let’s get them banned for good.

Chris Packham

[1] More on Friends of the Earth's Big Climate Plan campaign.