Climate activists staged an overnight demonstration at the Science Museum in protest of fossil fuel sponsors
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Climate activists who slept the night at London’s Science Museum will approach visitors to inform them about the museum’s sponsorship deals.
In 2023, a new gallery sponsored by a subsidiary of the Adani Group, a multinational coal mining conglomerate, will open. Some 30 members of the UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN) camped out in the lobby to protest on behalf of the victims of fossil fuel companies. There have been no arrests.
Izzy Warren, a 17-year-old demonstrator, said the group, which includes students, scientists, and schoolchildren, chose to occupy the museum since the owners had ignored their petitions, letters, and boycotts.
The protest follows the Science Museum’s announcement last week of a new gallery named Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery.
Adani Green Energy is a solar power developer established in India and a subsidiary of the Adani Group, which also extracts coal through another arm of its business.
Dr. Alexander Penson, a biologist who participated in the sit-in, called it “appalling” that the museum was continuing to fund fossil fuels and entering into a new partnership with Adani.
The activists claimed they worked out a deal with museum employees to be moved from the second floor to the Energy Hall near the main entrance, where they would have access to restrooms for the entire night.
The museum has also come under fire for working with Shell to support the Our Future Planet exhibition, which focuses on carbon capture and storage as well as natural solutions to the climate crisis. A gagging clause was placed in the agreement with the fossil fuel company, requiring the museum not to mention anything that could harm Shell’s reputation.
The Science Museum has always defended its position on collaborating with fossil fuel companies.
Trustees, according to Ian Blatchford, “are not persuaded by those who argue that we should terminate all relationships with organisations that are tainted by direct or indirect ties to fossil fuels.”
“We believe that engaging, debating, and challenging firms, governments, and individuals to do more to make the global economy less carbon intensive is the best strategy.