Responsible Science

Climate change and energy

SGR produces a range of outputs on the issue of 'Climate change and energy'. This covers climate change science, technological and policy responses to climate change, energy supply technologies (especially renewable energy and nuclear power), energy use and energy efficiency (including in transport and buildings), and related policy and lifestyle issues.

Brexit Britain’s security policy: cutting aid to spend on weapons

Britain’s security and defence priorities in the wake of Brexit emphasise high tech military equipment such as robotic and nuclear weapons, while overseas aid is slashed and action on climate change remains inadequate. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses the situation.

11 May 2021

The military carbon bootprint and arms conversion

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, outlines how the military fuels climate change - and thus how there is an urgent need for arms conversion. He summarises the latest data on the 'military carbon boot-print' and looks at examples of arms conversion, from the 1976 Lucas Plan to the 2020 Ventilator Challenge.

23 April 2021

Three quarters of SUVs are sold to urban households

‘Polluter elite’ should be UK climate policy target

The Cambridge Sustainability Commission on Scaling Behaviour Change says we should target the UK’s polluter elite for sustainable behaviour shift. Andrew Simms, SGR, reports.

13 April 2021

The carbon footprint of military sectors in the EU

Militaries use a lot of fossil fuels, yet are frequently exempt from publicly reporting their carbon emissions. SGR and CEOBS examine EU military carbon footprints in a new report by Stuart Parkinson and Linsey Cottrell.

23 February 2021

Military v climate spending in the UK

In November 2020, the UK government announced a huge increase in military spending, a modest increase in climate change spending, and an enormous cut to the overseas aid budget. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at the implications for Britain's effort to tackle the climate crisis.

22 February 2021

Commuter behaviour change during lockdown

Dr Jan Maskell, SGR, summarises how commuters changed their behaviour during the Covid-19 lockdown in spring 2020, and assesses the implications for tackling the climate emergency.

8 January 2021

Cover of Scientists behaving responsibly report, shows a burger, a plane, a scientist in a lab and someone installing solar panels

Over 100 sign Science Oath for the Climate

Scientists, engineers and academics working in climate commit to personal behaviour change and calling out policy conflicts to tackle the climate emergency

10 December 2020

What is the potential for rapid transition of the aviation industry after Covid-19?

Presentation by Dr Lucy Gilliam, Transport and Environment, at SGR conference, Transition Now

7 November 2020

The hidden military implications of ‘building back’ with civil nuclear

Dr Phil Johnstone, Sussex University, presents the evidence that the UK's nuclear power programme has strong military links. Presentation at the SGR conference, Transition Now

7 November 2020

Industrial conversion during the Covid-19 crisis

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at how arms, car and plane companies retooled to produce medical ventilators. Presentation at the SGR conference, Transition Now.

7 November 2020

Issues: Climate change and energy