Responsible Science

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.

Nuclear weapons and climate catastrophe

Dr Philip Webber, SGR, summarises the latest scientific research showing how nuclear weapons could cause catastrophic global cooling - also known as 'nuclear winter' or 'nuclear famine'.

Presentation at SGR conference; online publication: 4 November 2015

Demilitarization for Deep Decarbonization

Tamara Lorincz, International Peace Bureau, discusses the twin problems of carbon pollution due to military activities and the priority given by governments to funding their militaries over tackling climate change.

Presentation at SGR conference; online publication: 4 November 2015

Wind turbines and solar panels into nuclear weapons: the UK's new industrial strategy?

UK government financial support is being cut from green industries, while there is no similar austerity for the military industrial sector. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, examines what is happening.

Article in The Ecologist, 15 October 2015

Rudd’s 'magic money tree' risks undermining investments in a low carbon economy

Dr Bridget Woodman, Exeter University, assesses the very disturbing developments in UK energy policy over the past few months.

ResponsibleSci blog, 13 October 2015

Making the case for effective climate policy

There is a gulf between the scientific reality of climate change and the political response to it. Tom Pashby, Fleming Policy Centre, outlines a proposal that could bridge that gap.

ResponsibleSci blog, 8 July 2015

Flights from Sense: How Space Tourism Will Alter the Climate

In the wake of the Virgin Galactic crash, Philip Chapman investigates the potential environmental impacts should space tourism recover from its recent setbacks and become a thriving global industry.

27 June 2015

UK scientists recommend actions to address the climate crisis

Ahead of the critical Paris climate summit in December and the upcoming climate lobby of the UK parliament on 17 June, SGR asked a number of energy and climate scientists at UK universities to provide roughly 50 words on what policies they would like the government to put in place. Their responses are as follows.

ResponsibleSci blog, 12 June 2015
 

UK energy R&D – time for a rethink?

With a new government in power and a new international call for action on energy research from the Global Apollo Programme, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses whether the U's energy R&D is heading in the right direction. One question, in particular, is whether nuclear R&D or renewables R&D should be prioritised.

ResponsibleSci blog, 3 June 2015

Shale gas and fracking: Introducing the key issues

Presentation by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, to local councillors in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, UK

Published online: 20 April 2015.

Students get inspired by ethical science and technology

Dr Jan Maskell, SGR, summarises the activities of our first Science4Society Week, including school visits to community renewable energy projects and classroom debates.

ResponsibleSci blog, 27 March 2015