Science Museum must stop accepting BP sponsorship

On the Radio 3 programme ‘Private Passions’ (22/3/26), the presenter asked how you decided about funding sources for the Science Museum. You replied that you ‘take all money unless there’s a good reason not to.’ You were talking about BP.

We, the undersigned, would argue that there is a compelling reason not to take money from BP, put simply, the climate emergency. We would draw your attention to the fact that last year BP substantially cut its annual renewable energy investments by more than £3.9 billion, while increasing its oil and gas investments by about 20% to £7.9 billion a year. BP said at that time that it hoped that ‘major’ oil and gas projects would start by the end of 2027. Your claim on the programme that BP are serious about transitioning to renewables is not borne out by their actions. They are prioritising company profits and shareholder wealth over the future of the planet.

We’d also like you to know that we are not, as you said on the programme, ‘remarkably relaxed about (…) sponsors’, quite the opposite. We are extremely concerned that the Science Museum is continuing to accept money from BP in a climate emergency that is worsening every single day.

You mentioned that the Science Museum is visited by more school children than any other museum in Britain. Perhaps you should ask them whether they want you to continue accepting money from BP, or make a stand against oil and gas, so that they have a better chance for a liveable future? 

For the sake of future generations, we strongly urge you to stop accepting money from fossil fuel companies.