Is climate change making the UK less safe? MPs begin climate change and security inquiry
On Tuesday 14 May, the Environmental Audit Committee will explore the link between climate change and security in the first evidence session of its new inquiry.
Meeting details
Climate change affects the security of nations and of individuals in many ways. Extreme weather caused by climate change, such as flooding, droughts, heatwaves, and sea level rise, can undermine food and water security, disrupt supply chains and critical infrastructure, and damage people’s homes and health.
Meanwhile, military assets like air bases are vulnerable to the effects of climate change and the armed forces are often deployed to respond to extreme weather events. Both potentially threaten their readiness to respond to conflict.
And while climate change can prolong insecurity and increase social tensions in countries already seeing experiencing conflict, violence can itself disrupt action to tackle climate change. Militaries are themselves among the biggest contributors to carbon emissions.
In the first panel, experts from around the world will discuss the risks climate change presents to the UK’s national security. MPs may ask how these risks and the Government’s policy approach in response compare to those of other countries. They may also ask how the Government should encourage global cooperation on climate security.
In the second panel, MPs will hear evidence from Government agencies and oversight bodies including the Climate Change Committee, Met Office and National Infrastructure Commission.
MPs are likely to ask witnesses how well prepared the UK is to deal with security and resilience risks posed by climate change, and how the Government can address these risks with a sufficiently strategic and long-term approach.