Issues: Security and disarmament

Security and disarmament

SGR produces a range of resources on the issue of 'security and disarmament'. This covers military technologies, arms control and disarmament (esp. nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ‘Missile Defense’, conventional weapons) - as well as alternative concepts of security, peace building and conflict prevention.

Scientists and engineers have a central role in the development of weapons and therefore share a special responsibilty to society. SGR's project work has investigated the extensive influence that the military has over science and technology.

Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier

Eight reasons why UK military spending shouldn’t be increased

The UK government is considering increasing its military budget in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, outlines eight reasons why this budget should not be increased.

10 March 2023

H-bomb explosion

Back from the brink? Nuclear risks

Presentation by Dr Philip Webber, SGR, summarising the current risks due to nuclear weapons.

3 March 2023

Borodianka, Ukraine

The war in Ukraine: assessing the human and environmental costs

In February, 2022, Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade Ukraine. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses the data on the impacts of the war during the course of the year – both on the battlefield and beyond it – and considers what the future might hold.

20 February 2023

Fighter + flames

SGR Executive Director gives evidence to parliamentary inquiry

SGR's Executive Director, Dr Stuart Parkinson, gave oral evidence on military carbon emissions to the UK House of Commons Defence Committee.

24 January 2023

report cover

New estimate suggests global military activities responsible for more emissions than Russia

An innovative new methodology for estimating global and regional military greenhouse gas emissions suggests that the world’s militaries are responsible for 5.5% of global emissions - according to a new report by SGR and CEOBS.

10 November 2022

Planet Earth

How war in Ukraine is derailing climate action

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses how the war in Ukraine is undermining efforts to tackle climate change and poverty - both in the UK and internationally.

29 October 2022

nuclear explosion

What would a nuclear war look like?

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, summarises the catastrophic impacts of a nuclear war. This includes the effects of a single weapon and the potential for massive climate disruption.

25 September 2022

drone (iStockphoto)

Is the University of Edinburgh involved in research for autonomous weapons?

Partnerships between the military and UK academia are being rapidly expanded. Alba Andrés Sánchez examines whether some of them might be used to help develop lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS).

15 September 2022

War and despair

A short dictionary of war terminology

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at how the language used to describe war – including that in Ukraine – can mislead and obscure the situation. He provides a short guide for cutting through the information fog.

26 August 2022

Fighter and flames

The Russia-Ukraine war and the climate crisis

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, summarises the ways in which the Russia-Ukraine war is fuelling climate change both on and off the battlefield - putting the 1.5C temperature target in jeopardy.

14 June 2022