The Science Museum Group has ended its sponsorship deal with Norwegian energy company Equinor.
Ian Blatchford, the museum’s director, told the firm that it was in breach of the museum’s pledge to ensure its sponsors complied with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C, according to emails seen by the Observer through a freedom of information request.
In other correspondence, the museum confirmed that sponsors in breach of climate commitments and unable to change course would be subject to gradual disengagement.
Equinor, formerly known as Statoil, has sponsored the museum’s interactive Wonderlab exhibition since 2016.
The sponsorship deal had been controversial because Equinor owns Rosebank, the biggest undeveloped oil and gas field in the North Sea, which the government gave approval to develop last year.
Last year, the museum charity said it would no longer use non-disparagement clauses in contracts with sponsors after media reports of the charity being “gagged” by such deals.
‘Raise the bar’
In a statement, the museum confirmed that Equinor’s sponsorship had drawn to a close.
A Science Museum Group spokesperson said: “Equinor’s sponsorship of the Science Museum’s Wonderlab gallery has drawn to a close at the end of their current contract term.
“Their contribution has been enormously important to us and has helped inspire hundreds of thousands of young potential engineers and scientists.
“The partnership concludes with our warm appreciation and with our ongoing encouragement to Equinor to continue to raise the bar in their efforts to put in place emissions reduction targets aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.”
Civil Society has contacted Equinor for comment.
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