Ecological Security

The Guardian today tells the tale of a UK national security report that was buried by their government because of inconvenient truths.  The long and the short of it is that the report highlights how climate change caused by fossil fuel emissions is not only an environmental threat but a national security threat as well.  

UK food security is at risk as drought, flooding, extreme temperatures, and population growth create stress with a very real possibility of ecosystem collapse.  By that the report's authors mean that basic ecosystem services like clean water, clean air, and food will be severely diminished.  One analysis concluded that the UK will no longer be able to support its livestock industry under future conditions.  A major shift in dietary patterns would be required.  

Elsewhere in the world, the catastrophic melting of Himalayan glaciers could result in mass migrations in south Asia and increased border conflict.  Water scarcity in south, east and central Asia will be a major disruptor.  The possibility of a nuclear exchange in the region becomes more likely under the expected climate change.  

One can only imagine that similar thoughts are running through those parts of the US government who haven't drunk MAGA's climate Kool-Aid.  Of course, there will be no report produced as the USG rapidly dismantles its climate monitoring and response infrastructure.  I'll try to track down the graphic I saw yesterday showing how the EPA and related agencies took huge hits in their personnel levels.  Only the Dept. of Health showed worse declines.  

Just to have a photo for the thumbnail of this post:  

Cylindropuntia viridiflora ripe fruit in winter