"Legally impossible": Zwolle scraps plan to ban fossil fuel ads

Zwolle is likely scrapping its plan to ban advertisements for fossil fuel-heavy services, such as long-distance air travel, combustion engine cars, and cruise ships. Research showed that the ban is unfeasible - there are too many legal pitfalls, and it is unclear what exactly falls under fossil fuel advertising, RTV Oost reports.

The Zwolle faction of GroenLinks proposed banning fossil fuel advertising in the city’s streets in May last year. “Fossil fuels cause serious harm to human health and the state of the climate,” the party said. The idea got support from the PvdA, Volt, PvdD, SP, and ChristenUnie. Zwolle would have been the first municipality to ban these ads.

However, the municipality's investigation showed that the ban was unfeasible. Street advertising falls under freedom of expression, which is legally complicated to limit. The proposal also doesn’t make clear exactly what falls under fossil fuel advertising. And the municipality worries that a local ban will lead to lawsuits.

The Zwolle mayor and aldermen, therefore, advised the city council not to push through this ban, pointing out that former Energy Minister Rob Jetten also said last year that only very well-founded bans have a chance of standing up in court.