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LeadingÌýsecurity,ÌýmilitaryÌýand academic experts have joined forces with the government to boostÌýthe UK’s preparedness for the security impacts of climate change and nature loss.Ìý

Climate Minister Katie White has today (Friday 26 June) announcedÌýthe launchÌýa first-of-its-kind expert taskforce thatÌýwillÌýadviseÌýgovernment on how to betterÌýanticipateÌýand respond to the growing risks climate change poses to national security.Ìý

The UK’s 2025 National Security Strategy makes clear that climate and nature loss are core drivers of global instability, economicÌýdisruptionÌýand security risk.Ìý

As Britian experiences anotherÌýrecordÌýheatwave this week, climate change is alreadyÌýimpactingÌýfamilies and businesses.ÌýThe UK Health Security Agency estimated over 1,500 heat related deaths last summer and analysis has shownÌýin 2025 hot and dry conditions led to £800 million in crop losses for British farming.

Co-chaired by Climate Minister Katie White and Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle, the taskforce will meet to pinpoint gaps in the UK’s preparedness and identify the most serious climate and nature threats to national security. It will also review existing resilience work across government and set out clear recommendations to strengthen readiness. It builds on continued action to tackle the climate crisis and protect future generations. Earlier this month, the government set out a world‑leading target for the seventh Carbon Budget — cutting emissions by 87% between 2038 and 2042 — helping to cut bills, shield families from fossil fuel price spikes, and drive investment in the UK’s clean energy economy.

Minister for Climate, Katie White, said:ÌýÌý

Climate change is no longer a distant concern. It is a security challenge that is reshaping the world in which we all live.Ìý

Recent events in the Middle East make clear just how exposed the systems which we all depend on are to shocks,Ìýwhich can quickly cascade andÌýimpactÌýtheÌýevery dayÌýlives of families and businesses.Ìý

We’re convening this taskforce, the first of its kind, to make sure that we are prepared as possible for theÌýsecurity challenges that climate changeÌýcreates.

Minister for Security, Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP, said:Ìý

The climate crisis is a growing threat to our national security, from disrupting supply chains, which pushes up prices in the shops, to driving conflict and instability around the world.

This new taskforce will bring together leading experts to make sure Britain is better prepared for these risks – strengthening our resilience at home and ensuring we can respond to an increasingly uncertain world.

These risks are increasingly crossing borders and sectors, with knock-on effects for migration, access to food and water, energy systems, supplyÌýchainsÌýand financial stability.Ìý

The taskforce will take a joined-up look at climate security. In practice, this means:ÌýÌý

• looking at how climate impacts overseas can translate into domestic pressures, including more people living in climate-vulnerable conditions andÌýtheÌýconsequences for UK
• understanding the risks to the UK and global economy, including what happens when assets, infrastructure or whole regions become too risky to insure or invest in
• exploring rising geopolitical tensions in places like the Arctic, where melting ice isÌýcreating security challenges

TheÌýinitialÌýgroup ofÌýTaskforce members include:Ìý

• Tim Benton, Professor Emeritus, University of Leeds; formerly Research Director & Distinguished Fellow at Chatham House
• Nick Bridge, Associate Fellow, Environment and Society Centre, Chatham House
• Duncan Depledge, Senior Lecturer in Geopolitics and Security, Loughborough University
• Bassam Fattouh, Director, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies.Ìý
• Olivia Lazard, Planetary Fellow, Berggruen InstituteÌýÌýÌý
• General Richard Nugee, Non-Executive Director for Climate Change and Sustainability, MODÌý
• Nathalie Pettorelli, Professor, Institute of Zoology, ZSLÌýÌýÌý
• Janani Vivekananda, Director of Climate Diplomacy and Security Programme, Adelphi GlobalÌýÌý

Further members of the taskforce will be announcedÌýin due course.

Janani Vivekananda, Director of Climate Diplomacy and Security Programme, Adelphi Global, said:ÌýÌý

Security in the 2020s means climate security.ÌýI’mÌýhonoured to join this Taskforce to help ensure the UK acts early and decisively — with integrated,Ìýevidence‑basedÌýand accountable responses that prevent climate and nature risks from becoming crises, protect people, and strengthen the conditions for peace.ÌýÌý

General Richard Nugee, Former Non-Executive Director for Climate Change and Sustainability, MOD, said:Ìý

I am delighted to be joining aÌýTaskForceÌýthat puts climate change and biodiversity loss at the heart of National Security for this country.ÌýBoth have significant implications for the Security andÌýwell beingÌýof the state and must be addressed for our people.