A new report from influential think tank IPPR argues that security threats resulting from climate change should be at the core of the government’s approach to national resilience. It says that these threats have been consistently and significantly underestimated and now pose major security risks.

The report argues that cascading risks and tipping points are not adequately considered in, or are simply missing from, national security risk assessments and strategy. This has led to significant underestimation of the climate threat. There are worrying similarities to the situation prior to the onset of Covid-19, although climate threats pose even greater security challenges.

A new footing is required: climate change should be a core part of national security planning. National security is critically dependent on the resilience of communities, globalised systems and nature, and not just on defence and other traditional security matters.

The central recommendation is that the government undertakes a rapid national security risk assessment of climate change to establish a full picture of the security consequences of climate change, identifying the most critical threats and choices for improved risk management, and catering for a national security audience at the highest level.

Read more and download the report here