Scientists for Global Responsibility's environmental policy lays out how we strive to minimise the direct environmental impacts of the organisation's activities, and hence play our part in responding to the global climate emergency.

SGR's environmental policy is reviewed regularly. It was last reviewed by our National Coordinating Committee in May 2022 and signed off by our Executive Director in July 2022.  We have achieved level Bronze accreditation with Investors in the Environment and are currently working towards Silver.

For information about SGR's activities to encourage society as a whole to reduce its environmental impacts, see our constitution and issue pages, such as those on climate change and energy.
 

Environmental Policy

Scientists for Global Responsibility recognises that it has a responsibility to the environment beyond legal and regulatory requirements. We are committed to minimising our environmental impact as an integral part of our Constitution, organisational strategy and operating methods. We encourage all stakeholders, for example our members and other organisations, to do the same.
 

Responsibility

All employees and volunteers have a responsibility in their area to ensure that the aims and objectives of the policy are met.
 

Policy Aims

We:

• Comply with and exceed relevant regulatory requirements. For example we aim to reduce our (already small) carbon emissions by 64% in 2022/23 compared to our baseline year of 2019/20; a much bigger and faster reduction than is required by the UK Government.
• Monitor and improve our environmental performance.
• Minimise our environmental impacts including emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
• Incorporate environmental factors into organisational decisions.
• Involve all employees and volunteers in the implementation of this policy and increase their awareness as necessary.
• Encourage our stakeholders to take similar actions and to increase their awareness, e.g. by signing up to SGR's 1.5C Living targets.

Consumption and waste

• We minimise the amount of energy, water and other consumables we use as much as possible. For example, our office is based in an eco-refurbished building with very high levels of insulation and rainwater harvesting.
• In sourcing our energy and other consumables, we choose very low carbon and renewable sources wherever possible. For example, our office is based in a building partly supplied by renewable energy sources - in particular, electricity from solar photo-voltaic panels and hot water from solar thermal panels. The building's energy performance rating (2016) is 'A' with a carbon emissions rate of 7 kgCO2e/m2/y.
• We take into account energy consumption, efficiency and environmental impact of products when purchasing – for example, by using a high specification office printer, web hosting service, and printing supplier.
• We minimise and reduce our waste as much as possible, reuse and recycle wherever possible, and encourage our members to receive digital communications rather than paper mailings if they can.

Travel

We:

• Minimise the need to travel, and restrict to necessary trips only. For example, many of our employees choose to work from home, we have zero commuting by car and most of our meetings are online.
• Use by default alternatives to travelling such as e-mail or video-conferencing – for example, for coordination meetings.
• Encourage the use of public transport, bicycles or walking. For example, our office is based in a city-centre location near public transport hubs and with sheltered cycle storage.
• Recognise the high environmental impacts of flying and any proposal to use air travel would require very strong justification. Indeed, no staff or committee member has flown for SGR business purposes for at least ten years.

Culture

We:

• Involve staff, for greater commitment and improved performance.
• Will review this policy annually in consultation with staff and other stakeholders where necessary.
• Provide staff with relevant environmental training.
• Work with suppliers, contractors and sub-contractors to improve their environmental performance.
• Use local labour and materials where available to reduce energy consumption and help the community.