Queensland Museum accused of misleading teachers and children about climate
3 days ago
- #education
- #climate-change
- #fossil-fuels
- Queensland Museum's Future Makers program, sponsored by Shell, has been accused of omitting fossil fuels as the root cause of climate change in its educational materials.
- Comms Declare, a climate advocacy group, claims the program misleads students by not explaining fossil fuel combustion's role in rising CO₂ levels and ocean acidification.
- Shell has contributed $10.25 million to the museum since 2015, supporting teacher development and STEM education, but critics argue this creates a conflict of interest.
- Critics, including climate scientists, argue fossil fuel companies should not shape climate education, comparing it to past tobacco industry influence.
- The program encourages students to design carbon capture systems but fails to emphasize reducing fossil fuel use as the primary solution to climate change.
- Comms Declare urges the museum to review or withdraw the materials and end its association with Shell, citing concerns over climate literacy.