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196 documents from Scientists for Global Responsibility
kyoto-mechanisms-sgr-statement
SGR recommends strict limits on the Kyoto Mechanisms to prevent 'hot air' loopholes and ensure industrialised nations prioritise domestic action. The statement calls for the total exclusion of nuclear fission and speculative 'climate-engineering' projects from Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), while demanding tight restrictions on forestry projects and a rigorous definition of 'sustainable development'.
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Document type: Statement
SGR Position Statement Genetically Modified Foodstuffs 1999
The Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) oppose the commercial release of GM crops in the UK and the introduction of new GM foods to the market. They argue that potential impacts on consumer health and the environment have not been sufficiently investigated and that safety data from the United States is not applicable to the UK's environment. SGR advocates for a minimum five-year moratorium on new GM foods, mandatory labelling of GM ingredients, and a transparent investigation into the influence of international biotechnology companies on the food chain and the ethics of patenting gene lines from developing nations.
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Document type: Statement
SGR Response to a UK government consultation
SGR argues that the UK government's approach to climate change is too cautious and fails to challenge the unsustainable nature of economic growth. The organization advocates for a 'Contraction and Convergence' model for global emissions, a shift in taxation from labour to resource use, and the complete replacement of fossil fuels and nuclear power with renewables. SGR specifically criticizes the government's reliance on 'accounting tricks' for non-CO2 gases, the lack of restrictions on air travel, and the potential dangers of climate engineering technologies.
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Document type: Statement
SGR Position Statement on Climate Change
Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR) advocates for a minimum 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by industrialised countries by 2010, based on IPCC evidence of human influence on the climate. The document warns of catastrophic consequences, including sea-level rise affecting small island states and the potential disruption of the North Atlantic Current. SGR rejects geo-engineering and cost-benefit analysis as inappropriate tools for climate assessment, instead proposing ecological tax reform, renewable energy investment, and a long-term global goal of equal per capita emissions.
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Document type: Statement
What a Nuclear Attack Really Means
The report examines the multifaceted impacts of a nuclear attack on a major city, specifically London, covering radiation, infrastructure collapse, and environmental damage, ultimately questioning the effectiveness of civil defence.
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Document type: Report
case-study-emily-environmental-sciences
The document outlines the professional journey of a geochemist who balanced roles as a university lecturer, Green Party councillor, and office manager for Scientists for Global Responsibility. The individual prioritised a low-carbon lifestyle and activism over high-earning potential, advocating for part-time work to allow time for community and institutional environmental advocacy, including successfully campaigning for their university to declare a climate and ecological emergency.
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Document type: Case study
2. Travel by land and sea
The document outlines a low-carbon travel target for UK residents, recommending zero car ownership and specific distance limits for trains, buses, and shared car use to achieve an annual emission level of 0.7 tCO2e per person.
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Document type: Guide
7. Possessions
The document defines a target for possessions based on low overall consumption and a preference for second-hand or reconditioned goods. It provides estimated carbon footprints for various consumer products and suggests minimum lifetimes to ensure consistency with a target emission level of 0.1 tCO2e per capita per year in the UK.
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Document type: Guide
3. Food and drink
The document proposes a food-related carbon target for individuals in the UK, focusing on the adoption of vegan or near-vegan diets, the reduction of food waste, and the avoidance of high-emission foods such as air-freighted produce, greenhouse-grown crops, and products linked to deforestation. Adhering to these measures is estimated to result in average emissions of 0.9 tCO2e per capita per year.
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Document type: Guide
case-study-martin-plastic-recycling
The document profiles Martin, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Relic Plastic, a small recycling company that transforms low-value plastic waste into handmade products. Drawing on a background in Earth and Environmental Science and the 'Precious Plastic' movement, Martin emphasizes the importance of tangible recycling and education to promote a circular economy over a linear one. The case study highlights the operational challenges of running a social enterprise, the role of ethical funding from trusts and universities, and the belief that individuals can influence the ethics of their professional roles regardless of the organization's size.
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Document type: Case study
case-study-michelle-renewables-civil-engineering
The document outlines the career path of a Chartered Civil Structural Engineer at RES, whose work has evolved from designing wind turbine foundations to managing designs for wind farms, solar farms, and energy storage projects. The individual emphasizes the importance of professional ethics, sustainability, and the positive societal and environmental impact of working for an independent renewable energy company.
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Document type: Case study
8. Pets
The document proposes a target of owning zero large or meat-eating pets to achieve 0.0 tCO2e emissions per capita per year, noting that average dogs and cats emit 0.8 tCO2e and 0.3 tCO2e annually, respectively.
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Document type: Guide
Developing your own Career Principles
The document outlines a process for creating personal career principles by reflecting on work preferences, organizational types, and global responsibility. It provides a set of sentence starters and an example to help users define their professional boundaries and priorities, such as refusing to work for arms manufacturers or prioritizing environmental sustainability.
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Document type: Guide
Case Study: Kirsten
The document outlines the career of Kirsten, a Climate Change Consultant at a global sustainable development firm. Her work focuses on providing strategic climate advice, contributing to Environmental Impact Assessments, and utilizing carbon management tools to achieve whole life carbon reduction in the built environment. She holds an MA in Geography and an MSc in Carbon Management, and she emphasizes the importance of working for organizations that share her ethics and morals to create meaningful change.
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Document type: Case study
Non-suitability of genetically engineered feed for animals
The report challenges the approval of Chardon LL GM maize for commercial growth in the United Kingdom, asserting that official feeding trials on chickens and rats showed signs of erratic weight gain and reduced thriving that were overlooked. It further cites anecdotal reports from the United States where livestock and wildlife allegedly avoided GM crops in favor of non-GM alternatives.
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Document type: Report
Cyber security analyst
The document outlines the responsibilities of a cyber security analyst, who protects IT infrastructure by monitoring networks and managing cyber threats. It notes that analysts may work in consulting or internal security and advises against working in military applications to enhance warfighting capabilities.
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Document type: Guide
Irresponsible Science?
The Association for Science Education (ASE) has no listed investments in arms or fossil fuels but maintains corporate links through sponsored educational projects and partnerships. Specifically, 15% of sponsors for its largest programme, School Science, are fossil fuel companies, and 17% of sponsors for the Optoelectronics College are military industrial organisations. The ASE lacks a formal environmental or ethical investment policy.
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Document type: Case study
Irresponsible Science?
The report examines the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), finding a contradiction between its extensive environmental policies and its financial ties to the arms and fossil fuel sectors. While IMechE promotes climate change mitigation and adaptation, it maintains significant corporate links through event sponsorship and a company-based registration scheme. The report highlights a lack of transparency regarding IMechE's £23.2 million investment portfolio and the absence of an overarching ethical investment policy, though some fund managers apply limited screening against coal and tar sands.
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Document type: Report
Irresponsible Science?
The report evaluates the Institute of Physics (IOP), finding a contradiction between its environmental commitments and its financial practices. While the IOP maintains an ISO 14001 compliant environmental management system and endorsed the 2015 Climate Communiqué, it lacks a formal ethical investment policy. Analysis of available data shows that approximately 22% of the identified portion of its £22.1 million investment portfolio was held in the fossil fuel sector, including a 2.1% holding in BP. Additionally, the report highlights extensive ties to the arms industry, particularly the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), which has been a consistent sponsor of the IOP's Awards Dinner and other events. The report also notes that 16% of the IOP's board of trustees have strong connections to the arms industry.
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Document type: Report
Irresponsible Science?
The report examines the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), finding a contradiction between its 'Charter for Sustainable Development' and its financial activities. While ICE promotes sustainability and adheres to UN Principles for Responsible Investment, the analysis reveals significant investments in fossil fuel companies and financial ties to the arms sector through corporate partners, event sponsors, and education programme supporters. The report notes a lack of transparency regarding the full extent of its investment portfolio and the specific funding levels of its corporate sponsorships.
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Document type: Report