Which Australian agencies are in bed with climate polluters and fossil fuel lobby groups? The 2024 F-List reveals all
Comms Declare and Clean Creatives have unveiled thier latest F-List for 2024, identifying agencies they deem “climate polluters”.
Leading the way as the ‘most polluting agency’ in Australia, according to the report, is GRACosway, a part of Omnicom, which represents eight fossil fuel clients.
GRACosway’s troubling client list is closely followed by that of SEC Newgate, Spring Street Advisory, and WPP’s Purple, who each have six polluting clients on their books.
Meanwhile, Ampol has been described as the most ‘self-promoting polluter’, aligning itself with six Australian agencies and five in New Zealand.
Six Australian agencies — BMF, Brookline Advisory, Buck, Nous, Special, and Wahoo Advertising — have made their debut on the list this year.
The report also reveals that the following eight Australian and New Zealand agencies are currently representing fossil fuel lobby groups:
Adenium (NSW Minerals Council)
CMAX Advisory (Australian Energy Producers)
Counsel House (NSW Minerals Council)
FTI Consulting (Asia Natural Gas and Energy Association)
Headline Advisory (Minerals Council of Australia)
TG Public Affairs (Low Emissions Technology Australia)
BCG2 (Gas NZ)
Meanwhile, Crisis & Comms Co has shown the ‘least improvement’ over the past twelve months, adding three new fossil fuel clients, bringing its total to four.
Comms Declare founder Belinda Noble said: “The research has found that the halls of power are greased with oil, coal and gas, and public affairs companies with strong links to governments are continuing to do the bidding of our largest climate polluters.
“Climate polluters will insist that they are just maintaining market share or trying to reach net zero. But look at Ampol, one of the biggest marketing spenders, with record petroleum sales that increased 17% since 2022.”
The bold research incorporates over 30 new sources of data to reveal 1,010 contracts between 590 agencies and 332 fossil fuel clients in 70 countries between 2023 and 2024.
Of these 1,010 contracts, 692 are new, and 318 have continued from the F-List 2023. A total of 551 contracts haven’t been reported before.
Clean Creatives methodology included searching agency websites, creative portfolios, LinkedIn’s ad library, PRCA and O’Dwyers agency directories, the OpenSecrets lobbying database, and more.
Clean Creatives executive director Duncan Meisel claimed the 2024 F-List is the most accurate report on the ad and PR agencies working for fossil fuel companies ever produced.
“We’ve incorporated over 30 new sources of data so that clients, employees, and business partners fully understand the risks of working with fossil fuel agencies,” he said.
“We are experiencing the hottest period in human history, and as extreme weather continues to spread, pressure will only grow on these firms to cut ties with the polluters pushing our planet to the brink.”
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Interesting, let’s also have a list for…
Agencies that promote unhealthy food
Agencies that promote alcohol
Agencies the promote things that come in plastic
Agencies that use TV ads that watched on plastic devices that are powered by fossil fuels.
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No one actually cares. Consumers are still reliant on all these brands in all facets of life.
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To all the agencies on the F-List, I applaud you for acquisition and servicing of your clients, delivering innovative creative and media solutions, and contributing in a positive way to our advertising industry.
Now for this deplorable article. The band of hypocrites are at it again. This is bad for our ad industry and Mumbrella shouldn’t waste time giving it air.
Belinda (squeaky clean) and her cohorts at Comms Declare and Clean Creatives are at the top of my H-List. I hope they enjoy their macabre ego gratification while trying to denigrate and witch hunt agencies that are adding significant value to our industry. I can’t see any evidence of real value that the clean, green band are adding – just insults. Their websites do not list any significant supporting agencies or clients. Only the gullible believe that the sky is falling!
I hope the list dissipates into the carbon neutral mire from whence it came.
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Love a list like this but worth noting that hardly any of you complicit hypocrites reading this have done anything pro-environmental yourselves.
No EV
No rooftop solar with battery to charge it
Or not moved to an electricity supplier who invests in renewables
Etc etc etc.
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