Haarlem has banned meat adverts from public spaces

In an effort to reduce consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, Haarlem in the Netherlands has made the bold decision to outlaw ads for intensively farmed meat on buses, shelters, and screens.

Acknowledging the link between animal exploitation and the worsening climate crisis, a Dutch city will become the first in the world to outlaw meat adverts from public spaces.

The drastic measure — following reports from the UN that the agriculture industry contributes to about a quarter of our total greenhouse gas emissions — has been drafted by green political party GroenLinks in Haarlem, which has a population of about 160,000.

In an effort to reduce consumption and encourage more environmentally conscious lifestyles, the plan is to prohibit buses, shelters, and screens from displaying ads including everything from supermarket chicken to McDonald’s burgers.

‘If people want to continue eating meat, fine,’ says Ziggy Klazes, who is responsible for drafting the original motion.

‘What we can’t do is tell people there’s a climate crisis and then encourage them to buy products that are part of the cause.’