A CASE OF NATIONAL SECURITY
After the film shown last night by local groups on the dangers of climate change, one of the speakers goes into more detail on the background for his concern.
The film, now being shown across the UK, has been produced by the National Emergency Briefing, a group of experts supported by many organisations, from the Royal Meteorological Society and the National Trust to the Royal Society of Biology and British Ecological Society. Among the speakers is Lieutenant General Richard Nugee, who warns that climate change is now a core national security threat.
“The threat picture is shifting faster than expected. Climate fuels global instability that directly affects UK security. Instability abroad translates into instability at home.
“The greatest risk is cascading crises. Multiple shocks hitting simultaneously – food, health, infrastructure, migration, energy and extreme weather – risk overwhelming government systems and eroding democratic stability.”
He tells Howie Firth in conversation why defence planners are now so concerned and about the background geopolitical issues to which climate risks are adding.
Lt General Richard Nugee is a former senior British Army officer whose 35-year military career included operational tours in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, where he served as Chief of Staff to NATO’s ISAF Joint Command. He also specialised in personnel roles, culminating in Chief of Defence People (equivalent to Global HR Director for Defence).
As his final role he wrote a Review of the Ministry of Defence’s approach to Climate Change and Sustainability. He has since earned international recognition for bringing the implications of these issues to Defence and National Security sectors, and he has subsequently taken up roles with a number of renewable energy and environmental sustainability organisations.
He is Chief Executive of the Scar Free Foundation, Chair of the Royal NAAFI Board, a strategic advisor to consultancies and organisations, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and is Patron, Chair and Trustee of a number of organisations such as Invictus Games UK2027.
