British Museum accepts £50 million BP donation despite Greenpeace criticism of greenwashing

Greenpeace UK has condemned the British Museum's acceptance of a £50 million donation from BP, calling it a major greenwashing sponsorship deal. The environmental organization's policy director Doug Parr criticized the museum for allowing fossil fuel companies to clean their image through cultural partnerships. This donation represents the largest corporate arts donation in the UK and comes despite the museum's previous suggestion it would end its 27-year sponsorship relationship with BP. In June, the institution indicated it would terminate this long-standing partnership, but has now reversed course. Museum chair George Osborne, former Conservative chancellor, previously stated the museum aims to become a net zero carbon institution. The funding is designated for the museum's renovation plan. Greenpeace notes this decision contradicts a broader trend of cultural institutions divesting from fossil fuel money. The organization questioned whether the museum learned from past controversies.