In last weeks OOH Webinar on OOH Trends in 2021, Ken Klein spent some time looking at the new administration and how a focus on all things green and sustainability might impact the OOH industry. Here are a few of his key points.
“When we turn the corner from Covid, Green will be the color, and we better get ready to think about how this will impact our politics, our mobility and how we get around, even the way we do taxation and how we treat our public service.”
Looking at a green future – Politically, two announcements that came right away from the new administration.
After the election, there was an immediate corporate shift to move green:
- GM is on its way to an all-electric future, with a commitment to 30 new global electric vehicles by 2025.
- Nissan pulls out of emissions fight with California.
On the legislative side, highway infrastructure bills will be positioned as climate bills:
GM announces they will phase out gas and diesel cars by 2035. “If GM is going to stop making (gas fueled) cars, what does that mean for the gas station?
Ken provided the following picture of a Volta charging station at his neighborhood grocery store. (Note the advertising screen and that this is a free charging station).
Questions for the future on electric vehicles:
- Who can serve the consumer?
- Where are the charging stations going to be located?
- Are charging stations ad-supported?
Transportation – Expect a major push towards mass transit from the new administration with President Biden, Secretary Buttgieg and Senators Schumer and Tom Carper ( Environment and Public Works Committee Chair) all being pro-transit. A call for support of mass transit will be considered a green initiative.
There will be a push to raise gas taxes to pay for infrastructure with the increase in gas prices considered an environmental plus. “The more you can tax carbon, the better it is for the environment.” Federal gas taxes have not been raised since the 90’s, but when the debate comes up, it will be cast in environmental terms.
As an industry are we ready for a green future? Ken posits, that answer is yes. He provided the following example.
The partnership that the OOH industry had on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day during Climate Week. Using OOH as a means to share an environmental message.
Denis Hayes, the original organizer of Earth Day had this to say about OOH.
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