Irresponsible Science?

The Engineering Council, the regulatory body for the UK engineering profession, maintains comprehensive environmental guidance for engineers but lacks a dedicated ethical investment policy. Analysis of its approximately 1.6 million investment portfolio, held within the Baring Targeted Return Fund, reveals that about 1% of known holdings are in the fossil fuel industry and less than 1% are in arms companies. However, the report notes that because only 24% of the portfolio's final holdings could be unambiguously identified, the actual extent of these links could be higher.

• The Engineering Council provides detailed environmental and sustainability guidance for the engineering profession, requiring registered engineers and technicians to work in a way that "contributes to sustainable development, as outlined in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC)."
• The Engineering Council lacks its own specific ethical investment policy, instead adopting the policies of the funds it uses, such as the Baring Targeted Return Fund, which excludes direct investments in tobacco, prostitution, and pornography.
• Based on available data for 24% of the portfolio, approximately 1% of the Engineering Council's known investments are in the fossil fuel industry, including holdings such as INPEX.
• Based on available data for 24% of the portfolio, less than 1% of the Engineering Council's known investments are in arms companies, including holdings such as NRG Energy Inc and EP Energy.

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). Irresponsible Science? https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/6-Engineering_Council.pdf

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. Irresponsible Science? n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/6-Engineering_Council.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=Irresponsible Science? |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/6-Engineering_Council.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/2019-10/6-Engineering_Council.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }