Arabic version: مجلس مدينة أديلايد يوافق على حظر إعلانات الوقود الأحفوري

According to ABC News, Adelaide City Council has approved a ban on advertising by oil, coal and gas companies in council-owned public spaces, including bus stops, banners and billboards. The measure passed at a council meeting on Tuesday evening, with five councillors voting in favour and four against.

The ban is due to begin on July 1, 2027. The motion includes a transitionary period for businesses already advertising with the council, although the relevant time period has not yet been determined. The council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and is working towards halving its 2020 carbon emissions by 2030.

Councillor Keiran Snape, who put forward the motion, said the council’s policies should align with taking climate change seriously. He said the ban would mean the Santos-sponsored Tour Down Under could not place Santos advertising in the CBD as part of the event once the measure takes effect, though he said the state government could overturn that outcome.

The South Australian government said the decision could threaten the future of the Tour Down Under village in Victoria Square. A government spokesperson said the village attracted more than 70,000 visitors during this year’s event and that its future could affect CBD businesses that benefit from the crowd. Santos sponsors the cycling race, held in Adelaide each January.

Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith and councillor Alfredo Cabada voted against the motion. Ms Lomax-Smith said major sponsorships were difficult to secure and warned of financial consequences. Mr Cabada said the approach could push away major employers and create legal risk, arguing companies should be engaged on cleaner energy rather than shut out. The motion also prevents councillors from accepting hospitality where an oil, gas or coal company is a sponsor.