Military spending hits record levels, while climate finance falls short
Climate change can increase the risk of violent conflict, so why don't we redirect some of the funding for military technologies to help tackle climate insecurity? Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, assesses the potential based on the latest international data on military and climate spending.
Article from Laboratory News; republished: 22 June 2018
Air pollution: one of the greatest health challenges of our time
As the UK government chooses World Environment Day to announce plans for a third, polluting runway at Heathrow Airport, and new reports point to air quality worsening internationally, May van Schalkwyk and Emer O'Connell look at the global public health crisis of air pollution, and the key steps needed to tackle it.
A man ahead of his time – How Martin Ryle saw the future of energy
In the first of two articles marking the centenary of former Astronomer Royal, Martin Ryle (1918–1984), Dr Alan Cottey describes how, early on, he saw the flaws in nuclear and fossil fuel energy and how renewables were the answer.
Good money after bad oil: the intergenerational burden of public subsidies to North Sea oil & gas
North Sea oil began flowing into the UK economy in 1975 and production peaked in 1999. Ever since, the industry has faced inevitable decline. Now, writes Andrew Simms, a new report reveals how decommissioning its infrastructure is raising questions of cost, contradictions in climate and energy policy, and the prospect of a huge bill being passed on to the next generation.
Cars and climate change: decarbonising passenger road transport
Dr Rachel Freeman, University of Manchester, looks at why reducing carbon emissions in the UK transport sector is only happening very slowly, and how it can be sped up.
State of the Arctic heightens focus on climate policy
The deterioration of the Arctic ice cap and its climate has continued apace. Vanessa Spedding provides an update on recent developments.
Article from SGR Newsletter no.46; advance online publication: 2 November 2017
Could climate change lead to a nuclear war?
Presentation by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, at CND conference.
Published online: 16 October 2017
New Scientist Live sponsored by arms and fossil fuel corporations
With 'New Scientist Live' being sponsored this year by Shell and BAE Systems, SGR has joined other campaign organisations in calling for them not to take sponsorship from the arms and fossil fuel industries in future.
Joint statement, 25 September 2017
Open letter to party leaders on climate change and the UK economy
Open letter sent to the eight political party leaders at the UK parliament
Science spending, ethics and the general election
Will the next UK government increase spending on military R&D at the expense of renewable energy R&D? Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, investigates.
ResponsibleSci blog, 5 June 2017