The UK has warned countries around the world that the climate and nature crises, along with the coming El Niño, threaten their national security, presenting foreign ministries with findings from a report the Guardian says was previously suppressed under Keir Starmer.
Key facts
- Ed Miliband presented the report's findings to foreign ministers at the UN general assembly in New York, according to the Guardian.
- The report was written by the UK's spy chiefs and, the Guardian reports, had been suppressed under Keir Starmer.
- It warns that the collapse of natural systems would lead to conflict, migration and food shortages.
- Miliband told ministers the coming El Niño poses a critical threat to nations' defences, the Guardian reported.
- The presentation was made at a private meeting to EU foreign ministers as well as Kenya and other countries.
The UK has warned countries around the world that the climate and nature crises, together with the coming El Niño, threaten their national security and defence, according to the Guardian. The warning was delivered through findings of a report that the Guardian says had previously been suppressed under Keir Starmer.
Ed Miliband, whom the Guardian refers to as foreign secretary, made the presentation to foreign ministers on Wednesday night during a private meeting at the UN general assembly in New York, the Guardian reported. The audience included the foreign ministers of the EU as well as Kenya and other countries.
The presentation was based on a report by the UK’s spy chiefs. According to the Guardian, the report found that the collapse of natural systems around the world would lead to conflict, migration and food shortages.
Miliband framed the coming El Niño as a critical threat to nations’ defences, the Guardian reported.
The Guardian reported that the decision to share the report’s findings comes after the report had been suppressed under Starmer. By presenting the material to an international audience of foreign ministries, the UK is signalling that it considers the risks a shared global concern.
The Guardian described the report as explosive, characterising the significance of its findings being brought to the attention of foreign ministers at a major international gathering.
Why it matters
Framing the climate and nature crises as a national security threat could reshape how governments prioritise environmental policy alongside defence. The sharing of a report the Guardian says was previously suppressed also raises questions about how such intelligence is handled and disclosed within the UK government.
Frequently asked questions
Who presented the report and to whom?
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband presented the findings to foreign ministers of the EU, Kenya and other countries at a private meeting during the UN general assembly in New York, according to the Guardian.
What does the report warn about?
According to the Guardian, the report by the UK's spy chiefs found that the collapse of natural systems around the world would lead to conflict, migration and food shortages, and that the coming El Niño poses a critical threat to nations' defences.
Why is the report significant?
The Guardian reports the report had been suppressed under Keir Starmer, making the decision to share its findings with global foreign ministries notable.