Fossil Fuel Ad Contracts Reach Record 1,321 in 2026
Clean Creatives reports a record number of contracts between fossil fuel companies and advertising agencies, driven by windfall profits from oil and gas price spikes.
The advertising campaign group Clean Creatives reported that active contracts between the fossil fuel industry and advertising agencies reached an all-time high of 1,321 in 2026. Research indicates that 386 fossil fuel companies across 73 countries employed 802 agencies to manage their public image, utilizing windfall profits resulting from oil and gas price spikes caused by the war in Iran.
Omnicom Group held the most contracts at 118, followed by WPP plc with 88 and Publicis Groupe with 34. Lead researcher Nayantara Dutta identified a trend of "fear-mongering" regarding nationalism and energy security in Western markets, while companies targeting the global south focused on cultural and family themes.
A spokesperson for the International Advertising Association responded by stating that fossil fuel advertising represents a small portion of spending in the United Kingdom. The association noted that such advertising is subject to strict regulation by the Advertising Standards Authority to prevent misleading environmental claims.
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