A former senior British military commander brought a stark warning about the security risks resulting from the interconnected topics of geopolitical instability and climate change to the Isle of Man, in an event at the Villa Marina on Tuesday.
Lieutenant General (Retd) 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.
The People's Emergency Briefing brought together clear scientific evidence with contributions from leading UK experts in climate science, food security, public health and economics, alongside reflections from well-known public figures and members of the public.
A panel discussion highlighted the importance of understanding how global challenges translate into local impacts for the Isle of Man; from infrastructure and supply chains to community resilience.
Lt Gen Nugee said:
'Climate change is not an abstract environmental issue. It is now a core national security risk. Facing these risks early, honestly and collectively is not about alarmism; it is about preparedness, stability and safeguarding the fabric of everyday life.'
Clare Barber MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, added:
'It was a thought-provoking evening, and I am grateful to everyone who took part and engaged so openly with the issues raised. While the evidence presented was sobering, it also reinforced that the Isle of Man is on the right path.
'Acting on our climate change commitments represents a genuine opportunity for the Island to address the wider geopolitical risks of an increasingly volatile world, and events like this help our community understand why acting on them matters.'
The event was organised by the National Emergency Briefing in partnership with Net Zero Isle of Man. Further public screenings of the film are planned to allow wider audiences across the Island to watch and take part in the discussion.
