Irresponsible Science?

The Geological Society of London maintains extensive financial ties to the fossil fuel industry through corporate membership, event sponsorship, and investments, despite public statements supporting climate action. While the society is praised for its transparency in financial reporting, it lacks an overarching environmental policy to govern the activities of its members or the organization itself. The study finds that approximately 70% of its corporate patrons are from the fossil fuel sector, and a significant portion of its 'Science and Education' income is derived from Petroleum Group events. Links to the arms industry were not explicitly found, though gaps in investment data leave this possibility open.

• Event sponsorship is heavily dominated by the fossil fuel sector; in a 2017 survey, 13 out of 17 sponsors were from the industry, and in 2019, all 15 identified sponsors were from the fossil fuel industry, with BP and Equinor being the most frequent.
• Analysis of available investment data shows that of the approximately 50% of investments that could be identified, about 7% were held in the fossil fuel industry.
• The society's membership magazine, The Geoscientist, carries external advertising that is nearly 90% focused on the fossil fuel industry.
• While no direct financial links to the arms sector were found, the study notes that gaps in investment data and the lack of a detailed ethical investment policy mean such links "could be present at a significant level".

APA

Scientists for Global Responsibility (n.d.). Irresponsible Science? https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/8-Geological_Society.pdf

Chicago

Scientists for Global Responsibility. Irresponsible Science? n.d. https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/8-Geological_Society.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Scientists for Global Responsibility |title=Irresponsible Science? |url=https://www.sgr.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-10/8-Geological_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/2019-10/8-Geological_Society.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }