An online advertisement for Clarus showed a photo of a family in a kitchen making pancakes. Below the image was the text “Renewable gas now flowing – Enjoy all the same benefits of gas with renewable gas. Learn more”. The advertisement resulted in two separate complaints, both arguing that the claim of "renewable gas" was misleading and a form of greenwashing.

The relevant codes cited for the complaints were the Advertising Standards Code, specifically Principle 2, Rule 2 (b) Truthful Presentation and Rule 2 (h) Environmental Claims.

The two complaints both focused on the misleading nature of the advertisement's claim of "renewable gas." The first complaint argued that the claim was deceptive because Clarus's gas was not fully renewable, but rather blended with fossil fuels, a fact that was not clearly disclosed to the public who might assume they were purchasing a completely green product; the complainant also pointed out that current gas appliances are not designed to run on entirely renewable gas. 

The second complaint went further, challenging the environmental basis of the claim by stating that methane gas, even if considered renewable, is demonstrably worse for the climate than coal when whole-of-life emissions are considered, especially noting that very small amounts of leakage (<0.2%) make it environmentally detrimental.

The Chair of the Complaints Board ultimately ruled the matter as Settled. This decision was based on the fact that Clarus, the Advertiser, was co-operative with the self-regulatory process and removed the advertisement after receiving the complaints. The Chair concluded that no further purpose would be served by placing the matter before the Complaints Board.

The Advertising Standards Authority held that the complaint was settled after Clarus voluntarily withdrew the advertisement after the complaints were received.

Clarus [2025] NZASA 23

<p>This entry was provided by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law. Please see the terms of use for citation and licensing of third party data.</p>

Clarus [2025] NZASA 23 - settlement agreement

Filed

New Zealand

The Climate Litigation Database

Find climate change litigation data and indicators for {text}.

{text} litigation

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law provides Climate Litigation Database, a comprehensive database of US and Global climate change caselaw

Quickly and easily search through the complete text of thousands of climate change law and policy documents from every country.

Search the Climate Litigation Database

An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

A potent, short-lived greehouse gas, largely released from livestock, fossil fuel extraction and waste management.

Actions to reduce emissions in energy generation and supply.

Energy derived from biological compounds that are renewable due to their short life cycle within the carbon dioxide cycle.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

Fossil gas, commonly known as natural gas, is a fossil fuel consisting chiefly of methane with smaller amounts of other hydrocarbons and trace gases, found in underground deposits.

Coal is a combustible sedimentary rock formed from carbonised plant matter, rich in carbon and hydrocarbons, and occurring in several main types including hard coal and brown coal.

The activities of industries involved in the production, distribution, and sale of energy, including electricity, gas, and renewables.

This sector creates and distributes information and entertainment through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

Clarus [2025] NZASA 23 - settlement agreement

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector