What city's council passed a legally binding ordinance in January 2026 to remove fossil fuel advertising from billboards and city-owned digital screens from May 2026?

The city council of Amsterdam recently made a significant move towards its climate goals by passing a legally binding ordinance in January 2026 to prohibit fossil fuel advertising. This new regulation, set to take effect from May 2026, will remove advertisements for high-carbon products and services from billboards and city-owned digital screens across the Dutch capital.

Amsterdam's decision marks it as the first capital city globally to enact such a comprehensive ban through local law. While other Dutch municipalities, including The Hague, Utrecht, and Nijmegen, have previously implemented similar restrictions, Amsterdam's ordinance goes further by applying city-wide and including advertisements for meat products alongside fossil fuels like flights, petrol and diesel vehicles, and gas heating contracts. This action strengthens the city's earlier, less extensive efforts from 2020, which primarily focused on metro stations and relied on contractual agreements rather than a full legal ban.

The move aligns with Amsterdam's commitment to becoming climate neutral by 2050, aiming to reduce incentives for consumption patterns that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Despite some concerns from advertising companies about potential legal challenges due to existing contracts, a precedent set by a Dutch court upholding The Hague's similar ban suggests a strong legal basis for these progressive environmental policies. This trend reflects a growing global movement, with over 50 cities worldwide now taking steps to restrict fossil fuel advertising in public spaces.