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.

The threat from nuclear winter

As the threat of a nuclear war grows, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, outlines the catastrophic climatic consequences should nuclear weapons ever be used - based on the latest academic research.

10 March 2022

COP26, peace and the carbon bootprint of the military

In light of the agreements at COP26, Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at the controversial role of the military in climate issues, including the latest data on military carbon emissions, and how demilitarisation programmes offer more potential for reductions than low carbon weapons systems.

29 January 2022

From arms, planes and racing cars to ventilators: industrial conversion during the Covid-19 crisis

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses the UK’s crash industrial programme to scale up production of medical ventilators during the pandemic – and what lessons can be learned for conversion away from fossil fuels & arms.

10 December 2021

Did COP26 deliver? Thoughts from Scientists for Global Responsibility

Andrew Simms, Phil Webber, Stuart Parkinson, and Jan Maskell give their initial thoughts on the outputs of the COP26 climate negotiations - and examine some options for future action.

17 November 2021

Science & activism: acting with the face of evidence

How should climate scientists get involved in campaigning activities? Dr Liz Kalaugher, SGR, Dr Alison Green, Scientists Warning, and Dr Aaron Thierry, Scientists for Extinction Rebellion, discuss the issues and options.

8 November 2021

Challenging the military carbon bootprint

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, summarises the huge carbon emissions of the military, the threat to the climate from nuclear weapons, and what can be done to challenge it.

8 November 2021

What does 1.5C-compatible living look like? An update on the science

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, presents the latest data on which personal actions are most likely to reduce your carbon emissions to a level compatible with the international 1.5C temperature target.

19 October 2021

Scientists stand together with Science Oath for Climate

In light of The Trick, a new BBC drama about the “ClimateGate” hack of one scientist’s emails in 2009, Dr Liz Kalaugher, SGR, looks at how climate scientists today are banding together to speak out about their evidence and how urgently we need to act.

18 October 2021

The climatic impacts of spaceflight

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, examines the carbon footprint of spaceflight - especially space tourism, military missions, and the planned return of humans to the Moon. He argues that the damage is large enough to justify a moratorium on all non-essential spaceflight.

8 October 2021

Hacking the Earth: what could go wrong with geoengineering?

As we head towards the COP26 negotiations, Prof Bill McGuire, University College London, warns about the dangers of relying on geoengineering to dig us out of the climate crisis.

1 October 2021

Issues: Climate change and energy