Issues

We currently focus on four main issues: disarmament and security, climate change and energy, questions of who controls science and technology and issues surrounding new and emerging technologies. You will also see that we work on some other issues too. You can explore these with the menu on the left of this page and with the search function. Material in this section includes all SGR's main outputs since 2005, with a selection of the more important material from before then.

Solar panels and wind turbine in snow

The best technologies for effective climate action

Prof Mark Z Jacobson, Stanford University, gives a whirlwind, sun and water tour of the key renewable energy technologies needed to rapidly reduce pollution, and their major social and economic benefits.

7 May 2025

Panel of speakers on stage at UCL event

Are international climate negotiations fit for purpose?

Andrew Simms, SGR, was one of the speakers in a university-hosted panel discussion around the importance (or not) of international climate negotiations in the past, present and future. Available on YouTube.

17 April 2025

Photo of a whale's tail with backdrop of mountains

Whales and international climate change law

Michaela Girvan proposes new ways to protect cetaceans under international environmental law due to their role in helping to tackle climate change.

24 March 2025

Gianluca Grimalda travelling by cargo ship

An act of conscientious objection for the climate

Dr Gianluca Grimalda reflects on his legal victory, achieved following the termination of his academic contract when he refused to fly.

6 March 2025

Trident submarine

UK nuclear weapons: from Vanguard to Dreadnought

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, summarises the latest situation with the UK's nuclear weapons programme, including technical problems, rising costs, and the heightened risks from nuclear confrontation.

27 February 2025

Matrix

Responsible AI: are governments and corporations giving up?

Dr Philip Inglesant, SGR, warns that the recent upsurge in enthusiasm for Artificial Intelligence (AI) downplays the increasing dangers which are arising due to the erosion of safeguards.

13 February 2025

 

Child amid rubble in Palestine

Gaza: how the West’s weapons are fuelling a catastrophe

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, updates earlier analysis of the considerable humanitarian impacts of the war in Gaza, including probable genocide. In particular, he summarises the role of the arms industries in the USA, UK, and elsewhere.

12 February 2025 (updated)
 

Football report cover

How big is the carbon footprint of football?

Dr Stuart Parkinson and Andrew Simms summarise SGR’s new research on the greenhouse gas emissions of the global football sector, and explore whether reducing the carbon footprint of football can help accelerate wider climate action.

3 February 2025

image representing elements of science and industry

R&D and the polycrisis: from corporate science to responsible science?

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, highlights a range of problems with current science policies, and suggests ways in which they could better contribute to tackling the polycrisis and meeting social and environmental goals.

7 January 2025

Electricity pylons image by Tom via Pixabay

The Energy Dilemma: will even greater consumption lead to more problems?

Prof Gareth Wyn Jones, Bangor University, draws on evidence from physics and biology to economics and political science to explore the effects of greater energy consumption on social and environmental goals. 

5 December 2024