I’ve believed for some time that the impact of climate change will become ever more personally real to all of us. It hit hard for me this week. I returned a year on to replay a spectacular golf course near where I live, however it’s now a scorched dustbowl; the golf was no longer a joy, but a hot slog. I know all about the sustainability challenges golf faces – I’m in the group at our club helping to tackle the way manage the grounds to encourage maximum biodiversity and become self-sufficient in use of water and energy.
Why might you ask am I writing about this? Well, because we’re all going to have personal stories of how climate change is impacting on what we do, and I care greatly that our industry does everything it can to take positive action. And because right now, more needs to happen.
That’s clear when you read LBB’s article about adland’s response to the wildfires here in the UK and across Europe. And to the voices across the industry, calling out for more action, fast. I hear you, Chris with your The climate isn’t someone else’s brief for The Media Leader, and Paul with your The Quiet Retreat of Sustainability in Ad Tech, and Shirley’s Wildfires and the restraint ad tech never learned… The tools are there – check out Ad Net Zero and AdGreen to get started – we know what needs to be done, the ASA’s just helpfully published its Greenspeaking with confidence guide, the Campaign Ad Net Zero Awards are still open for a few more days… Now’s the time.
Our pick of the ads:
- Our ad in the A is by VCCP who created ‘A World of Their Own’ for Dairylea, promoting their best-selling snack, Dairylea Dunkers. The advert is the latest chapter in the cheese brand’s ‘Set Them Free with Dairylea’ platform.
- Cross Country trains teamed up with McCann Birmingham to launch its fourth instalment of ‘Take Us On Your Journey’. The campaign supports the narrative that the most meaningful journeys aren’t defined by miles, but by the people waiting at the other end.
- Audible and WPP Media’s Wavemaker have unveiled ‘Stories that Speak to You’, a new global campaign highlighting the transformative power of listening.
- Publicis London created ‘Endurance’, two 30-second films for Actimove spotlighting the inner strength behind living through internal pains, showing what people living with acute and chronic pain are pushing against in everyday life.
Our must reads:
- Channel 4 and Lloyds have awarded four Black-owned businesses with £200,000 each in advertising airtime as part of their Black in Business initiative. (Media Leader)
- Following the ‘Trust As The New ROI’ roundtable which I hosted last month, Clearcast have released a new report revealing where brand confidence is lost and the drivers of trust. (LBB)
- As the new AI Transparency Code took effect earlier this week, brand leaders have re-evaluated how they use automation in consumer-facing ads. (Campaign)
- In response to the release of our AA/WARC adspend report for Q1 2026, the industry has reflected on why online radio was one of the fastest growing channels. (LBB)
Dates for your diary:
- You’ve got until 13 August to enter the Campaign Ad Net Zero Awards. The awards are all about progress over perfection, celebrating the teams, companies, creative campaigns, and innovative thinking driving the advertising industry’s transition to a net zero economy. If you think there may be a piece of work you or your team could enter, click here.
- The ASA has launched new LHF training on 10 September. AA members can take advantage of an exclusive enhanced discounted group rate. Use code AAgroup35 for groups of 4–24 delegates to get 35% off, or AAgroup60 for 25+ delegates for 60% off. T&Cs apply.
- Join the ASA’s Industry Summit on health and wellbeing advertising on 1 October to explore the challenges, risks and opportunities facing this rapidly evolving sector. Register your free place here.
- Our flagship summit, LEAD, will return to the QEII Centre in Westminster on the morning of 28 January 2027. Help shape the agenda by taking 2 minutes to fill in our survey here.
And finally, my colleague in our government affairs team, Chris Walker, spoke on the You & Yours show on BBC Radio 4 to describe the impact of the Less Healthy Food restrictions on advertising. Listen here.
