. Major blackouts, floods, landslides blocking roads, floods and train lines buckling to extreme heat have the potential to create a series of 'cascading' risks affecting other infrastructure elements. Climate change has already been recognised as Tier 1 or 'highest priority' national security risk. But 'no minister has been taking responsibility' for ensuring the resilience of vital power, transport and communications networks in what is described as a 'severe dereliction of duty'. 'We have found the government has very little grip on a critical national security risk,' the committee, which is made up of senior MPs and peers, reported. 'Climate risks have previously been categorised as Tier 1 national security risks, but a grave lack of ministerial responsibility and accountability has left a gaping hole at the centre of government on this pressing future risk to UK CNI.' Amongst other disasters, the committee highlighted Storm Arwen last November when almost million people lost power. Dubbed the worst storm in the country in decades, it caused large-scale damage and at least three people lost their lives. Evidence was also taken during last summer's heatwave when the UK was facing significant rail disruptions, flight delays and power cuts due to another extreme weather event. The committee said it was astounded the minister nominally responsible for CNI resilience – the then Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis – refused to appear before it due to his 'lack of command' of the issue. 'This acknowledgment of his lack of command of this issue – the reason given for his refusal – was in itself shocking, and suggests a severe dereliction of duty on the part of the){kind=link}
Britain’s national security is in danger due to the government’s ‘lax’ approach to extreme weather events like Storm Arwen, a report has revealed.
The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy has found ‘overwhelming evidence’ climate change is already impacting critical national infrastructure (CNI).
Major blackouts, floods, landslides blocking roads, floods and train lines buckling to extreme heat have the potential to create a series of ‘cascading’ risks affecting other infrastructure elements.
Climate change has already been recognised as Tier 1 or ‘highest priority’ national security risk.
But ‘no minister has been taking responsibility’ for ensuring the resilience of vital power, transport and communications networks in what is described as a ‘severe dereliction of duty’.