Adfree Cities and the New Weather Institute v. WPP plc (OECD Complaint, United Kingdom, 2025)

In February 2025, Adfree Cities and the New Weather Institute submitted a formal complaint against WPP plc with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This legal action is the first of its kind, seeking to hold an advertising company accountable under the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The complainants contend that WPP breached the OECD Guidelines by providing advertising services for “high-emitting clients in the fossil fuels, plastics, aviation, automobile, and fossil finance sectors.” The complainants allege that this advertising contributes to the adverse human rights and environmental impacts of climate change. The complainants also assert that WPP has failed to conduct adequate due diligence to prevent environmental and human rights damage that results from climate change. The UK National Contact Point has not yet issued a final determination.