UK Education Union Urges Boycott of London Science Museum Over Fossil Fuel and Arms Sponsorship
The UK’s largest education union calls for a boycott of the Science Museum in London due to sponsorship ties with BP and Adani Green Energy, sparking debate over ethics in museum funding.
The Science Museum in London faces mounting criticism after the National Education Union (NEU), the UK’s largest education union, backed calls to boycott the institution. The protest centers on the museum’s sponsorship ties to oil giant BP and Adani Green Energy, a company linked to coal mining and arms manufacturing.
Campaigners argue these partnerships undermine the museum’s credibility, especially amid BP’s recent rollback on green energy investments and Adani’s controversial business dealings, including supplying weapons to Israel. The NEU urges educators to reconsider school trips, citing concerns over climate change messaging influenced by fossil fuel interests.
With several London schools already pledging to avoid museum visits, the campaign reflects a growing movement demanding cultural institutions sever ties with funding sources seen as contributing to environmental and geopolitical harm.
The Science Museum defends its funding model, highlighting its role in providing free educational resources and exhibitions like the Energy Revolution gallery, supported by renewable energy sponsorship. However, the controversy raises urgent questions about ethics and accountability in museum funding.
This debate echoes wider scrutiny faced by major UK museums over corporate sponsorships, sparking ongoing discussions about how cultural institutions balance financial support with social responsibility.
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