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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics

Why Britain’s climate and defence strategies need to be better integrated

Galician forest firefighting brigades work through the night to control a wildfire in Oia, Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain in August 2025.
Wildfires in Galicia, Spain in August 2025. ‘This summer, wildfires linked to climate change brought Europe to its knees.’ Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Your article (National security threatened by climate crisis, UK intelligence chiefs due to warn, 8 October) exposed the dangerous disconnect between climate policy and defence. It raises vital questions about Britain’s – and the world’s – readiness to face the security threats posed by the climate crisis, none of which can be met if leaders keep treating climate and defence as separate issues.

This summer, wildfires linked to climate change brought Europe to its knees, wreaking economic havoc, overwhelming health systems and draining military resources. All over the world, climate breakdown is fuelling instability, conflict and displacement. The EU’s failure to break free from Moscow’s pipelines is jeopardising its energy sovereignty. Too many governments treat climate and security as separate priorities, but true security will depend on how quickly we integrate climate resilience into national defence.

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