Helsinki votes to ban fossil fuel ads, but existing contracts could delay the ban until 2035

Helsinki's city council has voted in favor of banning advertising for fossil fuels and other carbon-intensive products and services. The proposal, brought by Councillor Isaac Jyväsjärvi and 27 other councillors, follows earlier attempts that failed to gain majority support. The exact scope of the ban is still undecided, but campaigners say it could eventually cover billboards promoting aviation, shipping, tourism, and construction, not just fossil fuel companies. The main hurdle is timing. Helsinki's existing outdoor advertising contracts run until 2035, so the ban may not take full effect for nearly a decade. The city now plans to investigate the legal options for restricting advertising and to assess the impact on the environment, city finances, and the media landscape. The move aligns Helsinki with Stockholm, Amsterdam, and Bristol, which have already restricted fossil fuel or high-carbon advertising in public spaces.