London’s Science Museum Group, which includes five UK-run museums, has ended its sponsorship deal with the oil company Equinor following calls for its board to divest from the energy giant.
Since 2016, the Norwegian company had sponsored the UK museum’s Wonderlab gallery, a space dedicated to children’s programming. In a statement released at the end of June, the museum confirmed that its contract with Equinor would not be renewed, although it acknowledged the company’s funding support for “young potential engineers and scientists.” The museum also noted that Equinor failed to reduce carbon emissions as required by the Paris Climate Agreement.
Climate activists have criticized companies like Equinor for using philanthropy to divert attention from their environmental impact.
In September 2023, Equinor faced controversy when regulators approved its plan to develop the Rosebank oil and gas field on the UK continental shelf. Equinor viewed this step as a move toward becoming a larger energy player in the UK. However, climate groups challenged the plan legally, arguing it would breach the UK’s climate standards aimed at phasing out fossil fuels.
Equinor’s presence in Europe has grown significantly over the past two years due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Before the war, Russia was a major energy supplier to Europe. By 2023, Norway had surpassed Russia as Europe’s largest gas supplier, according to the European Commission.
Despite the divestment, the museum’s board chair, Tim Laurence, stated that the board “does not agree” with broadly excluding energy companies as sponsors. “We believe in constructive engagement with companies that will be key in making the global economy less carbon intensive,” Laurence said.
Other UK museums have made similar decisions reluctantly. In June 2023, the Guardian reported that the British Museum quietly ended a 27-year funding partnership with BP, although some benefits for the firm remained. London’s National Portrait Gallery ended its BP partnership in December 2022.
Researchers and environmentalists see the Science Museum’s decision as a victory. In an online statement, Sara Waldron, Culture Unstained’s co-director, urged the Science Museum’s board to end its existing contracts with BP and Adani, a major coal producer in India, stating, “the museum must now hold these companies to the same standard and stop promoting their toxic brands.”
