Save the Children pulls out of museum event over sponsorship

Save the Children has pulled out of an event at London's Science Museum following concerns among its supporters about the institution's sponsors.

The Guardian reports the charity had been due to participate in an event at the museum on Wednesday evening (11 September) looking at some of the most important health challenges facing the world.

A statement issued by Save the Children said that it had wanted to "raise awareness of its global maternal health work, including in Gaza” but it withdrew “following concerns from supporters about one of the museum’s sponsors, in the context of current public campaigns”.

Save the Children did not name the sponsor in question.

However, the museum has been the subject of criticism over its sponsorship by Adani Green Energy, part of the Indian coal-mining and energy conglomerate Adani Group.

Another part of the Adani Group – Adani Defence and Aerospace – has a partnership with the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems.

A Science Museum spokesperson said: “Engaging our audiences with the major challenges of our time is a priority for the museum, and earlier this year we opened a new gallery exploring the urgent energy transition away from fossil fuels that the world needs to see, made possible by generous sponsorship from Adani Green Energy, a renewable energy business.

“We recognise that some campaigners have strong views about sponsorship and wish to see wholesale disengagement from entire sectors. Our trustees disagree with that view and have clearly articulated our approach, both in terms of robust governance and in urging companies, governments and individuals to do more to make the global economy less carbon-intensive.”