Amsterdam First Capital to Ban Meat, Fossil Fuel Ads

Amsterdam has become the first capital city in the world to ban public advertisements for meat and fossil fuel products, with the policy taking effect on May 1. Ads promoting burgers, petrol-powered cars, airlines, cruises and other high-carbon items have been removed from billboards, tram shelters, metro stations and public transport vehicles across the Dutch capital.

The ban applies to city-owned public spaces but does not extend to private shops, newspapers, radio or digital formats. Previous advertisements for chicken nuggets, SUVs and budget flights have been replaced by promotions for the Rijksmuseum and piano concerts, among others. City officials stated the measure aligns public advertising with Amsterdam's environmental targets, including carbon neutrality by 2050 and halving local meat consumption over the same period.

The policy originated from a proposal by the GreenLeft Party and Party for the Animals, approved by the city council in January with a 27-17 vote. A city council memo described fossil fuel products as harmful to the climate and excessive meat consumption as undesirable for environmental and animal welfare reasons. "The climate crisis is very urgent,"...