If you visit the Dutch city of Haarlem in 2024, you probably won’t see any advertisements for meat products in public spaces. This decision was made due to the widely negative influence production of meat has on our climate.
With this, Haarlem will become the first city in the world to ban meat content from its public advertisement space, writes the NOS.
READ MORE | The effect of climate change on the Netherlands: what’s going to happen?
The decision is grounded in the fact that meat and livestock are highly polluting industries. Not only are they behind about 32% of all methane emissions, they also heavily contribute to the heating of the planet.
Visual steps to fight the climate crisis
Haarlem might be the first to ban meat commercials, but many other (Dutch) cities have already implemented climate-related advertisement bans, albeit not meat-related ones.
Amsterdam is another Dutch city that has gone the extra climate mile and decided to ban all public commercials for fossil fuel companies.
The municipality in The Hague has similarly chosen to refuse all car, and air travel adverts from the city’s bus stops. Way to inspire people to go by public transport!
READ MORE | 17 ideas that make the Dutch sustainability super-heroes
Tricky business
Naturally, banning a broad category of advert such as meat is no small task. It is, therefore, still unclear what exactly the new measure means, and which products and areas the ban will be effective.
READ MORE | Dutch ministry omits advice to eat less meat from its sustainability campaign
In addition, some have raised the question of whether banning certain forms of advertisement can be considered a breach of the human right to freedom of expression.
Like all impactful decisions, banning meat products from public advertisements can cause conflicting opinions. In the meantime, Haarlem will carry on with its meat-ridding plans.
Do you think the ban on meat advertisements will be effective? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Even though I do not eat meat and haven’t eaten meat for decades, this proposal is sheer idiocy. In the first place, there is no “climate crisis“. (If it snows between now and September 21, the end of Summer, then will I agree.) In the second place, people should be free to eat what they want. If Joe and Sally want to eat meat and as long as they don’t force it on my plate what possible difference could it make to me? Answer, none.