Activists target Science Museum over fossil fuel sponsorship

Climate activism group Extinction Rebellion (XR) staged a protest at a panel debate organised by the Science Museum last week (1 February).

The activists chose the event to challenge the museum’s Science Director, Roger Highfield, over an ongoing sponsorship deal with the coal-producing conglomerate Adani, which is funding the museum’s Energy Revolution gallery. The museum also receives ongoing support from BP and Equinor.

For the duration of the event, a member of Health for XR stood next to the panellists in silence, holding a banner saying “2024 – More droughts, floods, and deaths fuelled by science museum oil and coal sponsors”.

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Among those in attendance was climate activist Greta Thunberg, who said: “The science is clear. During an escalating climate crisis, is it responsible for a public body like the Science Museum to invite Adani to sponsor its Energy Revolution gallery?”

“Adani has just invested 16 billion Australian dollars in a new coal mine and, as your own due diligence revealed, is accused of environmental crimes, human rights abuses and corruption.”

Thunberg directed her question at Highfield, who declined to answer.

XR sent a letter to all panellists in advance, asking them to reconsider their participation, leading to the withdrawal of Dr Emma Osborne, Associate Lecturer in Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of York.

A group of scientists previously announced a boycott of the museum until a moratorium on fossil fuel funding is announced, while former trustees and a director have also resigned in protest.

At the start of last week’s event, retired GP Dr Katherine Fallon said activists did not intend to stop the debate but intended to remind the audience and the panel of experts that the Museum’s sponsors BP, Equinor and Adani were still investing in new oil, gas and coal projects.

“We love the Science Museum but we are here to protest against the museum accepting sponsorship from companies that are planning to continue new expansion of fossil fuels,” Fallon said.

“You do not have to be a rocket scientist or a doctor to know that in 2024, fossil fuel induced climate change will bring more droughts, floods and deaths. 

“Despite advice from climate scientists, the Science Museum sponsors Adani, BP and Equinor carry on drilling for new coal, oil and gas, bringing misery, death and extinction to the world.”

The majority of cultural institutions have severed ties with fossil fuel sponsors in recent years.

An exception lies in the British Museum, which came under fire for signing a 10-year partnership with BP last December, after ending a 27-year relationship with the oil giant earlier in the year.