Who are Publicis anyway?

Publicis, Europe’s largest communication group, says tackling climate change is a priority while it continues to sing the praises of the world’s biggest fossil fuel companies.

#1

Largest communications group in the world

They say they bring together technology and creativity to help their clients at scale. In this case, that scale is planet-wide. Publicis Groupe.

34

Active fossil fuel contracts

Including Saudi Aramco, Chevron, TotalEnergies and BP – some of the biggest fossil fuel companies in the world. Clean Creatives F-List.

Oct 25

TotalEnergies convicted of greenwashing

A Paris court ruled TotalEnergies misled the public on climate. Publicis agencies worked on part of the rebrand. Desmog.

100

Years old in 2026

They boast "100 years of looking to the future" while working with the oil and gas companies that undermine that future. Publicis Groupe.

On the record

Questions we sent to Publicis

We put four questions to Publicis Groupe in writing. They have yet to respond.

  1. 1

    Does Publicis Groupe recognise that if its marketing activities help a client grow, it may share some responsibility for the additional emissions resulting from that growth?

  2. 2

    How does Publicis Groupe reconcile its stated climate commitments with ongoing communications, branding or marketing work for fossil fuel companies whose public strategies include continued oil and gas expansion?

  3. 3

    What internal policies or guidelines, if any, does Publicis apply when considering work for companies in the fossil fuel sector?

  4. 4

    Given that many organisations represented by Publicis include companies whose operations are negatively affected by climate change, how does Publicis approach potential tensions between these interests and work undertaken for fossil fuel clients?

The ask

Serious People are calling on Publicis Groupe to:

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

Why are you targeting Publicis specifically?

Publicis is Europe's biggest advertising group, and works for the world's biggest fossil fuel companies. Their own investor materials claim they have a data-and-creative platform that no other network can match. We're simply taking them at their word.

Is it fair to blame agencies for clients' emissions?

Clients hire agencies to advance their business goals. Most of the big fossil fuel companies have publicly stated plans to expand oil and gas production. So yes: if an agency works with a fossil fuel company it shares responsibility for pollution and climate damage from any additional emissions due to their efforts.

What's your problem with oil and gas?

We cannot keep expanding oil and gas production while avoiding catastrophic climate impacts. Oil and gas companies publicise a green transition, when most of their investment still goes towards expanding fossil fuels.

Should all controversial clients be banned? Who decides?

We are not arguing for a general principle about controversial clients. We are drawing a specific line against work that affects the habitability of an entire planet.

If they stop, won't another agency just take the account?

Ask the tobacco industry. The agencies that walked away first set a precedent. Those that stayed until the end are not remembered as fondly.

What can I do to stop Publicis promoting fossil fuels?

Share this page. If you work at Publicis or any of its agencies, raise it internally (the four questions above are a reasonable place to start). If your company uses a Publicis agency, ask them the same questions directly.

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