The UK’s National Theatre is bringing the curtain down on Shell’s membership from next year, as the arts organisation accelerates plans to make itself carbon neutral in the face of climate change.

The Anglo-Dutch supermajor, which is listed as one of the theatre’s corporate gold members and sponsored for over a decade the annual youth theatre festival at the venue, will no longer be a member as of June 2020.

Shell’s membership is currently worth £15,000 ($18,500) a year.

The National Theatre said the decision is due to the scale of the change required to act immediately in order to reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the Paris agreement.

The theatre said it would be focusing on setting “ambitious targets to move towards net carbon zero on site”.

A Shell spokesperson confirmed the membership will not be renewed next year but added: “As we move to a lower-carbon future, we are committed to playing our part, by addressing our own emissions and helping customers to reduce theirs – because we all have a role to play”.

The decision comes as opposition to fossil fuel companies’ sponsorship of many of the UK’s leading cultural institutions continues to grow.

Earlier this month, the Royal Shakespeare Company announced it will end its eight-year relationship with BP, following increasing pressure from artists, young people and environmental campaigners.

Mel Evans, a senior climate campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “This week the world of big oil sponsorships has seen more break-ups than an episode of Love Island”, referring to a popular reality TV show.

“As the impacts of the climate emergency play out all around the world, the reputational damage of being associated with the industry fueling the problem far outweighs any financial benefit. It’s time for oil giants to get the moral of the story, ditch a business model that’s destroying our world, and shift to renewable energy,” Evans said.

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National Theatre membership enters final act for Shell