Companies specializing in fossil fuels and which use the sponsorship of culture, media and sport to greenwash their reputations have often been a target for protestors. Often the protests are directed more towards the organization receiving the sponsorship than the sponsoring company.
A recent example has been with the protests in London during October 2021, where the prestigious Science Museum was targeted. Members of the London branch of the UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN London) held a candlelight vigil for “the victims of the museum’s fossil fuel sponsors: Shell, BP, Equinor and Adani” and organised a sit-in.
This is because a new gallery within the museum has been funded by a subsidiary of the Adani Group, which is a multinational business involved in coal extraction. The new exhibition space is due to open in 2023, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The Science Museum has previously said the gallery: “will explore the latest climate science and the energy revolution needed to cut global dependence on fossil fuels”.
On the protests against the Science Museum’s fossil fuel sponsors, Nick McAleenan, Partner in Media Law at JMW Solicitors, tells Digital Journal: “Clearly, the Science Museum serves to inform and educate about all things scientific. Oddly, they appear to be justifying taking carbon energy companies’ money on the basis that this will allow them the opportunity to discuss issues with their sponsors.”
He extends his criticism further, noting: “And then reportedly agreeing not to criticise certain major organisations (their sponsors) – which surely impedes their ability to perform their task of informing and educating.”
McAleenan’s recommendation to the institution is as follows: “They might be better off adopting a more neutral approach to such matters – by not accepting the money in the first place.”
Central to this approach is with understanding public opinion in advance, as McAleenan explains: “Obviously, businesses need to undertake similar reputation management risk assessments before agreeing to do business with certain countries. Or countries need to do so before accepting certain businesses into their territories.”
This does not mean that McAleenan is accepting the actions of the protestors outright, as he states: “As for the legal side of things, everyone has the right to protest. However, protesting by occupying private property without permission is potentially trespass. Given that the protest has no doubt attracted too much attention for the Science Museum’s liking already, they obviously agreed to the protesters making their point, staying for the night and not taking further action.”
