UK launches first climate security taskforce to tackle environmental threats

Britain has assembled its first dedicated expert group to strengthen the country's response to climate-related security challenges.

Climate Minister Katie White announced the taskforce on Friday, bringing together senior military figures, security specialists and academics to advise government on the mounting risks that climate change and nature loss pose to national stability.

Co-chaired by White and Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle, the new body will assess gaps in UK preparedness and recommend how the nation can better anticipate climate-driven instability and economic disruption.

The 2025 National Security Strategy identified climate and nature loss as fundamental drivers of global insecurity. Recent extreme weather has already taken a toll: the UK Health Security Agency estimated over 1,500 heat-related deaths last summer, whilst hot, dry conditions in 2025 caused some £800 million in crop losses for British farmers.

The taskforce represents a coordinated effort to integrate climate expertise into national security planning, ensuring that environmental threats receive the strategic attention once reserved for conventional risks.