Oil company Shell has poured millions of pounds into education resources in Australia. But critics say the resulting teaching materials

Oil company Shell has poured millions of pounds into education resources in Australia. But critics say the resulting teaching materials distort the role of fossil fuels in our changing environment.

DeSmog is a research organisation that works to combat misinformation from the fossil fuel industry. It’s released a new report on Australian subsidiary Shell QGC funding kids’ programmes via Queensland Museum.

The investigation finds that Shell-sponsored teaching materials distort the role of fossil fuels in driving the climate crisis. Instead, they present the company as part of the solution.

The story lands as scrutiny of fossil fuel influence intensifies in Australia. 52% of Australians oppose public subsidies for coal and oil expansion.

Shell’s £5m campaign

Shell QGC has paid the Queensland Museum AUD 10.25m (just over £5m) since 2015. This has funded STEM programmes for children as young as 9 years old.

Analyses show materials downplay fossil fuels’ role in climate change. They promote misleading solutions like carbon capture, and position polluters as part of the solution.

The partnership may breach the Museum’s mandate to provide “leadership and excellence” in communicating natural heritage.

Shell’s materials have had 400,000+ downloads, reaching 10,000 students and 1,700 teachers.

The museum has defended the programmes as STEM-focused and evidence-based, emphasising broad educational impact.

Public opinion shifting regardless

Queensland Museum CEO Jim Thompson claimed:

[The programmes] are designed to foster critical thinking, evidence-based learning, and engagement with Queensland’s natural history

However, Green MP Michael Berkman said:

The Queensland Museum is basically running a marketing campaign for a fossil fuel company.

Indeed, a Guardian report discovered 535 similar cases of fossil fuel companies supporting Australian cultural institutions.

Despite this, a majority of Australians say that Big Oil sponsorship is no different to Big Tobacco and should also become illegal.

Featured image via the Canary

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