London’s Science Museum Ends Contract With Oil Sponsor After Protests

London’s Science Museum Group, a collective of five UK-run museums, has ended a sponsorship deal with the oil company Equinor after calls for its board to divest from the energy giant. 

The Norwegian company had been a backer of the UK museum since 2016, sponsoring its Wonderlab gallery, a space devoted to children’s programming. In a statement published at the end of June, the museum confirmed that its contract with the firm would not be renewed, but praised the company for providing funding aimed at “young potential engineers and scientists.” The museum also said the company failed to reduce carbon emissions as mandated by the Paris Climate Agreement.

Companies like Equinor have been protested by climate activists for using philanthropy to deflect from other kinds of scrutiny.

In September 2023, Equinor became the subject of controversy when regulators approved it to move ahead with developing the Rosebank oil and gas field, a region of waters in the UK continental shelf. It was a step, the company said, toward furthering its goal of becoming a bigger energy player in the UK. The plan for the North Sea oil field subsequently faced legal threats from climate groups, who argued it would see the UK breach compliance with its own climate standards aimed at phasing out fossil fuels.

Equinor’s foothold in Europe has increased substantially over the last two years following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. Prior to the war, Russia was a major energy supplier to Europe. In 2023, the European Commission reported that Norway had outpaced Russia to become Europe’s biggest gas supplier.

In a statement, the museum’s board chair, Tim Laurence, said that despite the divestment from Equinor, the board “does not agree” with broad calls to “rule out” energy companies as sponsors. “We believe in constructive engagement with companies that will be key in making the global economy less carbon intensive,” said Laurence. 

Other UK museums have reluctantly made similar moves. In June 2023, the Guardian reported that the British Museum had quietly ended a funding partnership with the fossil fuel company BP after 27 years, though museum officials maintained that some benefits would remain intact for the firm. London’s National Portrait Gallery ended its BP partnership in December 2022.

Among researchers and environmentalists, the Science Museum’s move has been deemed a victory. In a statement published online, Sara Waldron, Culture Unstained’s co-director, called on the Science Museum’s board to end its existing contracts with BP and Adani, a major coal producer in India, saying, “The museum must now hold these companies to the same standard and stop promoting their toxic brands.”