decision

Complaint over Ampol’s carbon-neutral fuel claims - decision

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Litigation

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Filing Year For Action

Comms Declare, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, lodged a complaint to Ad Standards alleging that Ampol's claims of carbon-neutral fuel were greenwashing. The complaint alleged that a Facebook advertisement featuring treetops and a caption about Ampol's carbon neutral fuel were a breach of the Environmental Claims Code. In particular, they alleged that there had been a breach of s 1 for misleading or deceptive conduct in relation to environmental claims and s 2 that environmental claims must not overstate their benefit to the environment.

The Panel dismissed the complaint. In relation to claims made pursuant to s 1, they found that the target market for the advertisement was business customers who would understand that the service being offered was carbon offsetting for the fuel use. In addition, there was no need for any further disclaimers or qualifications on the advertisement. In relation to claims made pursuant to s 2, they found that the claim did not overstate the benefits to the environment.

Complaint over Ampol’s carbon-neutral fuel claims

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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.

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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

This sector involves the wholesale and retail selling of goods.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

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Tradable permits are market-based tools that grant permission for specific activities, frequently used to regulate emissions. These permits can be issued within a trading system to manage environmental impacts.

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.

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

Actions or measures to adapt terrestrial systems to climate change.

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

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.

The release of heat-trapping gases, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and industry.

This sector involves activities to move goods and people, alongside the storage of products.

Complaint over Ampol’s carbon-neutral fuel claims - decision

Target

Policy instrument

Risk

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance