Irish Doctors for the Environment have raised concerns at an Oireachtas committee, highlighting how Irish media lack health warnings when promoting polluting industries. The committee, focusing on advertising related to fossil fuels, was told that fossil fuel pollution globally poses a greater threat than smoking.

Dr. Ola Nordrum emphasized the need for continuous media coverage on the climate crisis, urging for more awareness and education on its detrimental effects. While RTÉ is praised for its efforts in storytelling around climate change, concerns were also raised regarding the perception of promoting certain agendas.

RTÉ’s Managing Director of News and Current Affairs, Deirdre McCarthy, acknowledged the challenges in addressing climate change with an ambivalent audience. The shift towards electric and hybrid models has impacted advertising revenue, signaling a changing landscape in the industry.

A call for bold steps, similar to the ban on smoking advertising, was made to include health warnings on fossil fuel ads. RTÉ expressed the commitment to be a positive influence on climate change awareness and integrate the issue across all editorial priorities.

As the committee continues to emphasize the need for stricter regulations on fossil fuel advertising, the conversation around media influence on promoting sustainability and climate awareness remains a critical focus.