Climate change should be assessed in the same way as risks to national security and public health.
That’s according to an international group of experts who have released a new independent assessment of the risks of climate change.
The report argues the risks of climate change should be updated regularly and communicated to political leaders “at the highest level”.
Commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, it is designed to support political leaders in their decisions on how much priority is give to the issue.
Foreign Office Minister Baroness Anelay, said: “When we think about keeping our country safe, we always consider the worst case scenarios.
“That is what guides our policies on nuclear non-proliferation, counter-terrorism and conflict prevention. We have to think about climate change the same way.
“Unlike those more familiar risks, the risks of climate change will increase continually over time – until we have entirely eliminated their cause. To manage these risks successfully, it is essential that we take a long-term view, and that we act in the present, with urgency.”