October 2024: BMJ bans adverts from fossil fuel funding banks following HXR criticism.
In October 2024 the British Medical Journal announced their decision to ban advertising from banks which fund fossil fuel companies. This decision was made after HXR members wrote to the BMJ criticising advertisements for Barclays Business Banking in their weekly magazine. Our members argued that such adverts were not compatible with the BMJ’s clear statements that 1) campaigning on the climate emergency was a main focus for the BMJ and that 2) they were committed to global sustainability and to aligning the BMJ’s “editorial voice with its internal operational practices”. They noted that the BMJ also hosts a campaign to encourage medical professionals and institutions to engage in carbon divestment, acknowledging the powerful influence of this strategy on politicians and industry.
The BMJ had already committed to phasing out and disinvesting in fossil fuels. However their advertising and sponsorship guidelines did not exclude adverts related to products and companies which harm the climate and health, although they did exclude tobacco products.
According to the 2024 Banking on Climate Chaos report, the world’s 60 biggest banks have committed $6,900,000,000,000 to the fossil fuel industry over 8 years. Barclays Bank is a major fossil fuel investor, earning the title ‘Europe’s dirtiest bank’ for funneling £133 billion into the fossil fuel industry from 2016 to 2021, and in doing so fueling the climate and health crisis.
The BMJ’s decision was publicised in their October 10th editorial “Rising to the challenge: next steps in The BMJ’s climate commitments”, in which they explain the full rationale for their decision. They highlight the role of fossil fuels in driving the increase in global greenhouse gas emissions and in accelerating global heating, how fossil fuel extraction and production “widens global health inequalities and disproportionately affects poorer, marginalised communities” and how this puts at risk the chance of achieving the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) that relate to the planet, environment and health. They emphasise how important it is for governments to prioritise a just transition from fossil fuels towards renewable forms of energy. And they discuss other plans for reducing their carbon emissions.
We thank the BMJ for listening and responding to our letters. We hope more journals and organisations will follow their lead.
Bad ads banned by medical mag. The Ecologist, 26th November 2024
Dobson, J., Cook, S., & Abbasi, K. (2024). Rising to the challenge: next steps in The BMJ’s climate commitments. BMJ, 387.