BREAK THE FOSSIL INFLUENCE

Fossil-Free Health Communications

Fossil fuels are making people sick. As health professionals, we know the evidence: air pollution, heatwaves, water contamination, wildfires -these are not abstract risks. They are public health emergencies. Yet the fossil fuel industry continues to pollute and mislead, enabled by powerful PR and advertising firms.

It’s time for the health sector to take a stand.

 #BreakFossilFuelInfluence

About the campaign

Health organisations have influence. We hire creative agencies to help us communicate with the public. That makes us customers with a choice – and with that choice comes power.

By choosing to work only with agencies that are fossil-free, we:

• Refuse to subsidise greenwashing and misinformation.

• Hold the communication industry accountable.

• Send a message that protecting health must come before protecting polluters.

Just like health leaders once stood up to Big Tobacco, it’s time to stand up to Big Oil.

What Does “Fossil-Free Health Communications” Mean?

Signing the Fossil-Free Health Communications commitment means your organisation is:

• Expressing a clear intent to avoid future partnerships with agencies that work with fossil fuel companies.
• Committing to ask new vendors about their fossil fuel ties in future procurement and RFP processes.
• Taking a step – however gradual – toward integrity and climate accountability in communications.

We understand this is a transition. Many health organizations have ongoing contracts that can’t be ended immediately. This commitment is not about immediate perfection – it’s about public direction.

Each organisation can define its own timeline. What matters is moving forward.

Commitment

The Commitment for Fossil-Free Health Communications

As organisations dedicated to protecting and promoting public health, we recognize the profound and growing threats that fossil fuels pose to human health and the environment. The fossil fuel industry’s contribution to climate change, air, water and soil pollution, and related public health crises makes it incompatible with our mission to safeguard the well-being of current and future generations. 

In order to align our communications practices with our commitment to public health and climate action, we intend not to employ PR and advertising agencies that represent fossil fuel companies As an intermediate step toward aligning our communications practices with our commitment to public health and climate action, we will initiate a review of the PR and advertising agencies we work with, assessing their policies and client portfolios for alignment with our values. During this period, we will prioritize collaboration with agencies that demonstrate transparency, commitment to truthful communication, and shared goals for a healthier, more sustainable world. Our ultimate aim is to work exclusively with agencies that do not represent fossil fuel companies.

We the undersigned medical and public health organizations, commit to the following:

1. Commitment to Fossil-Free PR and Advertising Agencies

We intend to work exclusively with PR and advertising agencies that do not have ongoing relationships with fossil fuel companies or related industries, including those connected to oil, gas, coal, and associated lobbying organizations

2. Rejection of Greenwashing and Disinformation

We aim to avoid collaborating with agencies that have engaged in or promoted campaigns that mislead the public about the environmental and health impacts of fossil fuels. We seek to work with agencies that prioritize transparent, evidence-based communication on climate change and public health issues.

3. Transparency and Accountability

We will require any PR or advertising agency we employ to disclose their client portfolios and confirm their commitment to not representing fossil fuel interests. We will prioritize agencies that have made public statements or taken actions to distance themselves from the fossil fuel industry.

4. Alignment with Public Health and Climate Values

We will employ PR and advertising agencies that align with our public health mission and that are committed to promoting climate action and health equity in their campaigns. We will seek out suppliers who actively support the transition to a clean energy future and promote sustainable solutions to protect human health.

5. Advocating for Ethical Communications

We will use our platforms and influence to encourage other health organisations, agencies, and sectors to adopt similar fossil-free commitments. We will advocate for ethical communications practices that prioritize the health of people and the planet. 

We encourage all medical, public health, and allied organizations to join us in this commitment to reject fossil fuel influence in communications and to align with agencies that support a just, healthy, and sustainable future. By making this commitment, we take an essential step in dismantling the disinformation campaigns that fuel climate inaction and health harm, and we stand up for the integrity of public health communication.

Signatories: