UK could be rocked by climate change far away

Environment News Service: International instability, disruption of essential infrastructure serving global markets and energy supplies are among the climate change impacts from abroad that could affect the United Kingdom at home finds a new report, published by Foresight, the government's futures think tank. In fact, climate change in other countries may impact the UK more than climate change at home, according to the report, "International Dimensions of Climate Change."

Professor Sir John Beddington, the government's chief scientific adviser and the project's director said, "Our world is getting warmer, and the UK's extensive international economic, political and cultural ties mean that the UK is at increasing risk from impacts of climate change overseas."
Professor Sir John Beddington and Vivien Life of the Foreign Office, launch the Foresight report International Dimensions of Climate Change, July 11, 2011. (Photo courtesy FCO)

International instability could increase as a consequence of climate change, either directly through extreme weather events and water system stresses, or indirectly as social and political systems in vulnerable parts of the world come under increasing strain, the report warns. The health of UK residents and the UK's role on the global stage could also be affected.

"The UK must not respond by becoming insular but instead broaden its international reach to tackle climate change," Beddington said. "This report is designed to help government consider how these impacts will be felt here in the UK so we can better prepare and adapt for the future."

Also, the UK has a moral, political and legal obligation to support certain regions that are particularly at risk from the effects of climate change, such as small island states which include many of the UK Overseas Territories....

Palace of Industry building from The British Empire Exhibition 1924, now used as a warehouse, Wembley, London, UK, shot by oyxman, under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license