Irresponsible Science?

The British Psychological Society (BPS) has implemented an ethical investment policy that excludes fossil fuel extraction and armaments sold to oppressive regimes, following pressure from its members. However, the BPS lacks a public environmental policy and maintains limited transparency regarding its £12.9 million investment portfolio, meaning investments in nuclear weapons modernisation cannot be ruled out. No direct financial links to fossil fuel or arms corporations were found through event sponsorship or advertising.

• The BPS enacted a 'Social Investment Policy' in November 2018 that precludes investments in companies whose primary business involves 'Engagement in fossil fuel extraction' or the 'Manufacture and sale of armaments to oppressive regimes'.
• The BPS does not have a publicly available environmental policy, although a 'Going Green Working Group' exists within its Division of Occupational Psychology to hold conferences and publish papers.
• The BPS held approximately 12.9 million in investments as of a recent annual report, but provides limited transparency; only cash holdings (about 7% of the total) were unequivocally identified as not being in the arms or fossil fuel industries.
• The BPS's ethical investment policy does not explicitly exclude companies involved in nuclear weapons modernisation, such as Rolls-Royce or Babcock, which are contractors for the UKs Dreadnought submarine programme.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). Irresponsible Science? https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/3-British_Psychological_Society.pdf

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. Irresponsible Science? n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/3-British_Psychological_Society.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=Irresponsible Science? |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/3-British_Psychological_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/2019-10/3-British_Psychological_Society.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }