International Dimensions of Climate Change
This short report will explore for the first time the risks and opportunities to the UK due to climate change overseas over the next 30 years and beyond.
The UK is currently undertaking a major exercise to understand the level of risk posed by climate change, to inform the policies and measures that will need to be adopted over this century. This initiative is currently being led by government through the UK’s first Climate Change Risk Assessment and its findings will be laid before Parliament in January 2012. While considerable attention has been focused on the direct effects of climate change on the UK mainland, there may also be significant impacts on the UK from the effects of climate change on other countries around the world.
The report will:
- draw out key threats and challenges to the UK that are likely to arise from the impacts of global climate change;
- highlight where the UK can build on its strengths to respond accordingly; and
- set out possible implications for UK policy in a world affected by climate change, so that the country remains competitive, secure and able to protect the wellbeing of the nation.
The key areas of impact for the UK explored in the report are:
- foreign policy and security;
- finance and business;
- infrastructure;
- resources and commodities;
- health;
- capitalising on leadership in areas of professional specialism; and
- values and behaviour.
Lead Experts
A group comprising of senior scientists and other experts are working with Foresight to ensure that the project is based on cutting-edge evidence, and that its analysis is of the highest technical and scientific standard. Professor Andrew Sentance, former external member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England and part-time Professor of Sustainable Business at Warwick Business School, chairs the Project’s Lead Expert Group.
The project will publish its findings in July 2011.
