Museums defend BP sponsorship after firm abandons climate targets

The British Museum faces renewed scrutiny of its relationship with BP since signing a 10-year, £50m partnership to fund one of the biggest redevelopments in its history. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

Two of Britain’s best-loved museums have been forced to defend their financial ties to BP after the company announced this week that it was abandoning its climate targets to focus on growing fossil fuel production.

The British Museum and the Science Museum, which have sponsorship deals with BP, said the company’s decision to grow its investments in oil and gas by cutting back on green spending would not alter their relationship with it.