Citizens’ jury on advertising high-carbon products and services
We have recently completed a project investigating citizen views on climate change and advertising, and specifically, the advertising of high-carbon products and services.
Advertising is influential both in shaping people’s choices, and in contributing to overall cultural understandings and norms. Previously, restrictions on advertising, including bans, mandatory warnings, codes of practice and so on, have been introduced to achieve societal aims such as reducing smoking or alcohol consumption. This project worked with a Citizens’ Jury to ask whether such approaches may have support, to address the issue of advertising and climate change.
Previous citizens’ initiatives, such as the UK-wide Climate Assembly UK, recommended measures to restrict advertising. This Jury looked in detail at the issue and developed a series of proposals to regulate advertising of high carbon products and services.
The project was run by Professor Rebecca Willis and Dr Jacob Ainscough.
Videos of commentators at each session of the Citizens Jury can be watched here.
A report summarising the juries findings will be published in June 2024