Source: BusinessGreen.com



Official review warns energy insecurity poses growing threat to UK



19 October 2010 - The government's Strategic Defence and Security Review has today highlighted the growing threat to the UK faced by increasing levels of energy insecurity and the anticipated impact of climate change.



The wide-ranging review, which sets out the government's defence priorities, echoes previous studies warning that climate change and increasing competition for scarce energy and water resources could lead to international tensions and growing security risks.



It concludes that the UK "faces a range of risks related to our ability to access secure, diverse and affordable supplies of energy, which are essential to economic stability and growth".



In particular, it warns that political instability and insufficient investment in energy exporting countries could lead to energy shortages that are likely to worsen as the UK's supplies of fossil fuels dwindle.



It also advises that the government will have to improve its ability to " understand and respond to the national security impacts of climate change, which may exacerbate existing security threats".



The review states that the government will give energy a higher priority in UK foreign policy and reprioritise diplomatic relations with key energy suppliers in order to help secvure long term energy supplies.



But it also says that the government's low carbon and energy efficiency agenda will become a key component of its security strategy as part of efforts to reduce reliance on energy imports.

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