Irresponsible Science?

The Royal Society, the UK's national academy of science, maintains a significant investment portfolio of approximately 200m but provides limited transparency regarding the specific companies held. While it lacks a formal overarching environmental policy, it has endorsed climate action via the 2015 Climate Communiqu. The study finds that the Society's ethical investment policy is narrow, specifically excluding only tobacco, which makes investments in arms and fossil fuel corporations likely. Additionally, the Society has received 'outstanding' donations from Rolls-Royce (arms industry) and Tata Sons (fossil fuel sector), and manages an 'Industry Fellowships' grant scheme funded by Rolls-Royce.

• The Royal Society manages an investment portfolio of approximately 200m, which is the largest among the professional institutions examined in the study, yet it provides very little detail on the specific funds and companies involved.
• The organization's ethical investment policy is limited to the exclusion of companies or funds that derive a significant portion of their income from tobacco products.
• Due to the narrow scope of its ethical investment policy and a lack of transparency, the study concludes that investments in both the arms and fossil fuel industries are likely.
• The Royal Society has received significant financial support from corporations linked to arms and fossil fuels, specifically identifying Rolls-Royce and Tata Sons as 'outstanding donors'.
• The Society operates a grant scheme called 'Industry Fellowships' that is funded by Rolls-Royce, a company categorized as part of the arms industry.
• Despite conducting research on environmental issues and endorsing the 2015 Climate Communiqu, the Royal Society does not have a formal environmental policy governing its own activities or those of its members.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). Irresponsible Science? https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/18-Royal_Society.pdf

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. Irresponsible Science? n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/18-Royal_Society.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=Irresponsible Science? |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/18-Royal_Society.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/2019-10/18-Royal_Society.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }