‘Climate obstruction’ alarms raised with museum sponsor

Students learn about ocean acidification with no mention of fossil fuels and explore carbon capture technologies through museum classroom materials emblazoned with gas company branding.

Various examples of Shell Queensland Gas Company (QGC) labeled resources distributed to schools under the authority of the Queensland Museum have been identified by Comms Declare as a “climate barrier disguised as education”.

The environmental communications charity says the gas business provided $10 million to the state cultural institution.

The Shell brand is featured in learning resources for primary and secondary school students on the museum’s website; One is about ocean acidification. He doesn’t mention fossil fuels.

The burning of fossil fuels is widely understood as a major driver of ocean acidification (a significant threat to corals and marine life), as seawater becomes more acidic by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The same document asks students to research a carbon capture and storage technology and present it to the class.

These technologies remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and oceans, but energy experts say they are costly, prone to poor performance and a “PR fig leaf” for the fossil fuel industry, as described by Comms Declare.

“This framework is in line with what the fossil fuel industry is discussing and encourages students to see technological innovation, not fossil fuel elimination, as the central climate solution,” the charity said in a report.

In response to a question from the Greens in August, Queensland Education and Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek said the Queensland Museum had received $800,000 from Shell to deliver its Future Creators program in 2024/25.

The program is designed to encourage more children to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

In a statement to AAP, the Queensland Museum defended its partnership with Shell, saying it allowed the museum to deliver a comprehensive STEM education program to more than 200,000 students across the state.

“Since the program was established in 2015, 89 percent of teachers participating in the program consistently report increased confidence in teaching STEM,” the statement said.

The statement said the museum was transparent about Shell’s participation in the program. Recognition of the company on the museum’s website and acknowledging this through signs and educational resources.

The museum is reviewing all learning resources as schools transition to a new curriculum.

These revelations come after increasing scrutiny of financial ties between fossil fuel companies and cultural and educational institutions.

The Western Australian Museum has been criticized for its research partnership with Woodside, while Monash University has decided to end its relationship with the oil and gas giant after pressure from staff and students.

Questacon, the national science center, has also stopped accepting money from the two main fossil fuel sponsors.

Comms Declare founder Belinda Noble said the latest case should ring alarm bells across the country.

“We will not allow Big Tobacco to sponsor educational materials; fossil fuel companies should not shape how children learn about climate,” he said.

Deakin University pedagogy and education expert Eve Mayes told AAP “obstruction by omission” was evident in the report, mentioning hard-to-find fossil fuels and highlighting technological solutions such as carbon capture and storage.

“Who does this serve?” Dr Mayes said:

In the school system, where his research on fossil fuel philanthropy focuses, systemic underfunding has created a void for vested interests to fill.

Dr Mayes suspects this is also the case for cultural institutions.

“When gift economies are at work, there is a risk that they will drive how teaching and learning takes shape on topics such as climate change,” he said.

“Young people are not stupid, and oftentimes when they see, for example, corporate actors financing and then producing these materials, it almost causes this kind of despair.”

Shell Australia declined to comment.

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