Island given stark warning about security risks surrounding climate change

A former senior British military commander gave talk at Villa Marina

Inaction on climate and nature could reduce GDP by around five percent over the next decade, and the weather we’re experiencing now is the most stable it will be in our lifetimes. 

Those were some of the stark messages delivered to an invited audience of the Island’s politicians and senior civil servants at a recent conference held at the Villa Marina. 

Former senior British military commander Lieutenant General Richard Nugee CB CVO CBE, former Chief of Defence People at the UK Ministry of Defence, was invited to the Island by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor who opened the event.

Drawing on his authorship of the Ministry of Defence's landmark climate change report and his role as a speaker at the UK's National Emergency Briefing in Westminster, he outlined the risks posed by climate change in relation to security of food, water, energy, the economy and the environment.

Our political correspondent Phil Gawne was in attendance, and has this report: