Climate Activist Says Advertising Should ‘Shrink’ as Protests Against Greenwashing Escalate

Brandalism campaign targeting car brands questions the ad industry's role in climate crisis

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As the 100th Brussels Motor Show opened its doors from Jan. 14 to 22, auto executives convened beneath bright lights on the trade show floor to show off sleek new vehicles. Simultaneously, outdoor sites across Europe were covered in car advertising–but many of those marketing efforts were soon hijacked. 

From London to Berlin to Paris, climate activists climbed ladders beside busy roads and painted over billboards with their subversive messages. “Add climate breakdown,” said one poster picturing BMW’s logo above a car with windows ablaze.

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