 said. Around eight per cent of the UK's transport network is at risk of disruption from landslides caused by flooding, which could also disrupt other critical infrastructure including water and energy supply, the report added. Meanwhile, the increasing reliance on electricity to achieve net zero is making the power system more vulnerable to disruption from extreme weather because of the increased reliance on overhead cables rather than underground pipes. 'Get a proper grip' The JCNSS called for the Government to "get a proper grip" on the risks posed to critical UK infrastructure and criticised the failure to appoint a single minister to oversee adaptation to climate change. It said there was "overwhelming evidence" that the impacts of climate change are already being felt in the UK, highlighting the record-breaking 40.3C temperatures in the summer, which caused widespread disruption to the rail networks. "There are plenty of examples of the extremely serious impact that climate change has already had on our critical national infrastructure. And there are bound to be more in the future – almost certainly more serious still," Dame Margaret Beckett, the chair of the committee, said. "But the thing I find most disturbing is the lack of evidence that anyone in Government is focusing on how all the impacts can come together, creating cascading crises. "There are simply no ministers with focused responsibility for making sure that our infrastructure is resilient to extreme weather and other effects of climate change." 'Cascading crises are a major danger' The report highlighted t){kind=link}
Commons committee calls on No 10 to ‘get a proper grip’ of the risks posed to UK infrastructure due to climate change
The increased reliance on electricity for net zero and the impacts of climate change pose a major national security risk, a report by MPs and peers has warned.
Increasingly high temperatures will cause electricity cables to sag, roads to soften and rut, and signalling equipment to fail, while storms could destroy overhead power lines, the joint committee on the national security strategy (JCNSS) said.
Around eight per cent of the UK’s transport network is at risk of disruption from landslides caused by flooding, which could also disrupt other critical infrastructure including water and energy supply, the report added.
Meanwhile, the increasing reliance on electricity to achieve net zero is making the power system more vulnerable to disruption from extreme weather because of the increased reliance on overhead cables rather than underground pipes.