Taking climate action is a fundamental defence priority - Yorkshire Post Letters

The UK’s intelligence and defence chiefs provide a stark warning, that the climate crisis poses a severe threat to our national security. This can’t be ignored and our efforts to transition away from fossil fuels and make the case to other countries is clearly essential.

This is no longer a 'green' policy choice; it is a fundamental defence priority.

The reports are unambiguous: accelerating global heating and looming ecosystem collapse will directly create food shortages, economic disruption, and mass migration that we can’t isolate ourselves from. As with all security threats, waiting until the problem occurs isn’t an option.

For too long, politicians have treated climate action as a long-term aspiration. The defence community, however, needs to consider concrete, long-term threat assessments. These advisors can’t be labelled green zealots and we can’t afford to ignore them.

Climate security needs to be integrated into every layer of national strategy and spending. Defence of the realm now means transitioning to clean energy at speed, shoring up our food supply chains and showing decisive leadership globally.

The UK is recognised globally for its climate science expertise which must be used to provide a foundation for international recognition of a problem that’s fundamentally important to every nation. Short term thinking can’t continue.