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UK Security Threatened by Ecosystem Collapse
21 Jan
Summary
- Ecosystem collapse could cause mass migration and food shortages.
- Vital ecosystems may collapse within five years, report warns.
- UK national security and prosperity are at significant risk.
UK national security faces a severe threat from the ongoing destruction of global ecosystems, according to a report by intelligence chiefs. The collapse of natural systems is predicted to lead to mass migration, significant food shortages, and increased global disorder. These impacts are not merely future possibilities; crop failures, intensified natural disasters, and disease outbreaks are already being felt.
Crucial ecosystems supporting global food production and climate regulation could face collapse within five to fifteen years. Hotspots like the Amazon and Congo rainforests, boreal forests, the Himalayas, and coral reefs in Southeast Asia are particularly at risk. This degradation threatens water security, crop yields, fisheries, and could exacerbate climate change, alongside potential pharmaceutical loss.
The report highlights the UK's reliance on imports and its vulnerability to geopolitical competition for scarce resources. Experts emphasize the need for national resilience and preparedness, urging a focus on understanding and honesty regarding these systemic, unfolding risks. Failure to support international biodiversity efforts and domestic nature targets could worsen the situation.
