Irresponsible Science?

The report examines the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), finding a contradiction between its 'Charter for Sustainable Development' and its financial activities. While ICE promotes sustainability and adheres to UN Principles for Responsible Investment, the analysis reveals significant investments in fossil fuel companies and financial ties to the arms sector through corporate partners, event sponsors, and education programme supporters. The report notes a lack of transparency regarding the full extent of its investment portfolio and the specific funding levels of its corporate sponsorships.

• The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) maintains a formal commitment to sustainability through its 'Charter for Sustainable Development', which requires members to 'understand, foster and promote the concepts of sustainable development'. Additionally, ICE was one of 24 UK-based societies that signed a joint Climate Communiqué before the 2015 Paris Agreement, urging governments to 'take immediate action to avert the serious risks of climate change'.
• Analysis of available investment data indicates that ICE has significant financial exposure to the fossil fuel industry. Of the known investments (representing approximately 15% of the total portfolio), about 10% were invested in the fossil fuel sector. Specific top holdings in funds held by ICE include Royal Dutch Shell, BP, and Centrica.
• ICE has multiple financial and corporate links to the arms sector. One in seven of its corporate partners (14%) and one in 12 (8%) of the founding partners of its 'Infrastructure Learning Hub' were classified as arms corporations. This includes companies such as AECOM and Bechtel, the latter of which has annual military sales exceeding $3 billion and is involved in the US nuclear weapons programme.
• While ICE states that its investment managers must follow the UN’s Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) to ensure a 'socially responsible and ethical approach', the report finds no evidence that this policy actually excludes investments in arms or fossil fuel companies.
• The report identifies a lack of transparency regarding ICE's finances. Publicly available data and research into fund managers only revealed about 15% of the institution's total investments. Furthermore, there is no public information available regarding the specific 'level of sponsorship funding' received from corporate partners and event sponsors.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). Irresponsible Science? https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/12-Institution_of%20Civil_Engineers.pdf

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. Irresponsible Science? n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/12-Institution_of%20Civil_Engineers.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=Irresponsible Science? |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/12-Institution_of%20Civil_Engineers.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{scientistsforglobalresponsibilityndirresponsible, author = {{Scientists for Global Responsibility}}, title = {{Irresponsible Science?}}, institution = {Scientists for Global Responsibility}, url = {https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/12-Institution_of%20Civil_Engineers.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }