Responsible Science

SGR Newsletters are published roughly twice a year. The main articles are listed below. For details of the current issue and back issues, See our Newsletter page

Tackling global risks in the second Trump era

The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency undermines efforts to tackle urgent global risks such as climate change and the threat of nuclear war. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, gives an overview of the problems and assesses how best to respond.

14 November 2024

Integrating science into policymaking: a vision for proactive evidence-based policies

With repeated failures to heed warnings from scientists over environmental and health threats, Baroness Natalie Bennett and colleagues argue for major changes to the relationship between science and policy-making.

4 November 2024

Graph showing unfair carbon budget to 2050

The UK’s fair carbon budget will run out in 2026: here’s the evidence

Dr Ian Campbell shows how, on current trends, Britain’s carbon emissions will exceed its fair share of the limit necessary to hit the 1.5°C Paris target within two years. He outlines the key implications for policy-makers and society as a whole.

5 August 2024

Badvertising: how promoting pollution prevents climate action

Andrew Simms and Leo Murray examine how, if left unaddressed, the manipulation of our behaviour by advertising and fossil fuel industry propaganda will make it impossible to achieve the civilisation-level transformation required for life as we know it to survive the 21st century.

19 July 2024

Degrowth and green growth: what’s the difference for rapid climate action?

Dr Beth Stratford questions whether there really is a destructive conflict in the urgent next steps for climate action between advocates of ‘degrowth' and 'green growth’. Here she delves into the debate’s background.

13 May 2024

Limits to techno-fix

Long established critic of overconsumption and advocate of simpler living, Australian academic Ted Trainer, speaks to SGR’s Andrew Simms about limits to technological responses to the climate and ecological emergency.

13 May 2024

Hydrogen gives the blues

Prof Kevin Anderson, University of Manchester, and researcher Simon Oldridge argue that the UK government’s hydrogen energy plan isn’t green at all: it’s an oil industry swindle designed to continue pollution-as-usual.

24 April 2024

Nuclear power in Ukraine: what would happen if Zaporizhzhia was hit?

The Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine houses the largest nuclear power station in Europe. It is currently in an intensely fought war zone. Dr Philip Webber, SGR, explains some of the risks of radiation releases that this poses, both nationally and internationally.

17 April 2024 (updated)

A bombed street in Gaza - image by the Israeli military on X

Gaza: one of the most intense bombardments in history?

Dr Philip Webber and Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assess the scale of the Israeli military assault in comparison with other wars, and consider the possibilities for peace.

13 March 2024 (updated)

War, climate breakdown, and economic injustice: tackling the triple crisis

Prof Paul Rogers, University of Bradford, examines the interlinkages between the world’s major crises, and outlines some ways forward.

21 February 2024

Newsletter articles