Government climate security taskforce to examine risks to UK infrastructure and supplies

The UK Government has convened a new Climate and Nature Security Taskforce to examine how climate change and environmental degradation could affect national security and essential services.

Announced on 21 October 2026, the initiative brings together specialists from climate science, defence, security, academia and other sectors.

Its purpose is to identify significant risks and make recommendations that could improve the country’s ability to prepare for future disruption.

What will the taskforce investigate?

The taskforce will consider how climate change and nature loss could affect the UK’s security and resilience.

Potential concerns include disruption to energy systems, international supply chains, financial stability and other infrastructure on which households and businesses depend.

The group will assess existing evidence, identify gaps in preparedness and recommend areas where further action may be needed.

Its membership includes experts with backgrounds in military planning, climate science and international security.

The taskforce is expected to provide independent recommendations to help inform future government policy.

Why does climate change affect national resilience?

Extreme weather can disrupt transport, electricity networks, water supplies and agricultural production.

Some consequences are immediate, such as a storm damaging power lines.

Others develop over longer periods, including reduced water availability, pressure on food production or disruption to international supply chains.

The Government says recent heatwaves, drought conditions and wildfires have demonstrated the need to consider these risks together.

The taskforce’s work will focus on identifying vulnerabilities and improving longer-term preparedness.

It is separate from the Flood and Drought Resilience Taskforce announced earlier in October, which focuses more specifically on managing water-related risks.

What does this mean for households?

The announcement does not introduce new requirements for household emergency supplies.

Nor does it indicate that a particular national emergency is expected.

However, it reflects growing attention to the resilience of the services people rely on.

At household level, practical preparations remain useful regardless of the cause of disruption.

Knowing how to manage a temporary power cut, keeping essential information accessible offline and having a basic emergency kit can all help.

Our beginner’s guide to prepping in the UK explains the principles of everyday preparedness.