We banned tobacco advertising because smoking kills. Now it’s time to put a stop to the promotion of highly polluting Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs). New research published in December 2021 shows that people exposed to SUV advertising are 71% more likely to own an SUV than a standard-sized car.

Over the past ten years, car manufacturers have shifted away from advertising family cars towards pushing ever bigger, more polluting - but much more profitable - SUVs. As a result, more and more people are buying these dirtier vehicles. This needs to stop.

1. SUVs bring us closer to climate chaos. SUVs emit an average of 25% more CO2 than a medium-sized car and they are now the second highest cause of global emissions rise. Let’s stop promoting these highly polluting vehicles.

2. SUVs are dangerous. Compared to normal-sized cars, SUVs are deadlier when involved in collisions with pedestrians. So while SUV adverts promote these vehicles as the ultimate protection against the dangers of the road, they miss the point- every new SUV makes its owner feel safer by making our streets more dangerous for everyone else.

3. SUVs take up an unfair amount of space. Many SUVs don’t even fit in a standard parking space. With lockdown easing, now more than ever before, public space is at a premium. We all need space for socially-distanced walking and cycling options.

If we want to encourage cleaner, healthier transport and travel, it’s time to end advertisements promoting big, polluting SUVs. Are you with us?

The New Weather Institute are calling for an immediate end to advertising of these vehicles. We need to stop adverts fueling the climate emergency.

Add your name to our petition calling on the Department for Media, Culture and Sport to end advertising for climate-wrecking SUVs.

[Read the full letter to ministers]