Irresponsible Science?

The report finds that while the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) has no evidence of financial links to fossil fuel or arms corporations in its education programmes, events, or magazine, it has a 'Very high' level of involvement with the fossil fuel industry through its investments. Approximately 31% of the 'known' investments (which represent at most 21% of the total £1.7 million portfolio) were in the fossil fuel sector. The RSS lacks an overarching environmental policy and an ethical investment policy, although it recently approved a change to invest between 5% and 15% of assets in 'global sustainable equities'.

• The Royal Statistical Society (RSS) has a high level of financial exposure to the fossil fuel industry through its investment portfolio. Of the investments for which detailed data was available, approximately 31% were invested in the fossil fuel sector.
• The RSS lacks a comprehensive environmental strategy and a formal ethical investment policy, although its Code of Conduct requires fellows to be aware of their responsibility to the environment.
• In November 2018, the RSS council approved a policy change to allocate between 5% and 15% of its assets to 'global sustainable equities' to increase investments in environmentally-conscious companies.
• There is no evidence of financial links between the RSS and the arms or fossil fuel industries regarding its school education programmes, events, or its magazine, Significance.
• Investment transparency is limited; the report could only access detailed data for at most 21% of the society's total investments of approximately £1.7 million.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). Irresponsible Science? https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/19-Royal_Statistical_Society.pdf

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. Irresponsible Science? n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/19-Royal_Statistical_Society.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=Irresponsible Science? |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/19-Royal_Statistical_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/2019-10/19-Royal_Statistical_Society.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }