Responsible Science

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.

The military carbon bootprint and arms conversion

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, outlines how the military fuels climate change - and thus how there is an urgent need for arms conversion. He summarises the latest data on the 'military carbon boot-print' and looks at examples of arms conversion, from the 1976 Lucas Plan to the 2020 Ventilator Challenge.

23 April 2021

The carbon footprint of military sectors in the EU

Militaries use a lot of fossil fuels, yet are frequently exempt from publicly reporting their carbon emissions. SGR and CEOBS examine EU military carbon footprints in a new report by Stuart Parkinson and Linsey Cottrell.

23 February 2021

Military v climate spending in the UK

In November 2020, the UK government announced a huge increase in military spending, a modest increase in climate change spending, and an enormous cut to the overseas aid budget. Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, looks at the implications for Britain's effort to tackle the climate crisis.

22 February 2021

Military involvement in UK universities - an update

Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, outlines how a major increase in UK military spending will draw universities further into programmes related to nuclear weapons, armed drones, and military space technology - fuelling arms races and decreasing international security.

24 January 2021