This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26213919

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ed Miliband: Climate change a 'national security issue' Ed Miliband: Climate change a 'national security issue'
(about 11 hours later)
Climate change is now an issue of national security with extreme weather threatening homes, livelihoods and businesses, Ed Miliband has warned.Climate change is now an issue of national security with extreme weather threatening homes, livelihoods and businesses, Ed Miliband has warned.
In an interview with the Observer, the Labour leader said the country was sleepwalking towards a crisis.In an interview with the Observer, the Labour leader said the country was sleepwalking towards a crisis.
This, he said, was because of a failure to recognise that climate change was causing the storms and floods.This, he said, was because of a failure to recognise that climate change was causing the storms and floods.
His comments come as flooding is still expected in many parts of the country despite a let-up in the stormy weather.
There are 14 severe flood warnings - indicating a "danger to life" - for south-east England close to the River Thames and two for the Somerset Levels, which have experienced weeks of flooding.
As well as the impact to the transport network, about one million properties had their power cut off in the last week and 30,000 are still without power, according to the Energy Networks Association.
Meanwhile, an independent committee has warned that extra government money will not address the long-term flood risk.Meanwhile, an independent committee has warned that extra government money will not address the long-term flood risk.
Mr Miliband said: "We have always warned that climate change threatens national security because of the consequences for destabilisation of entire regions of the world, mass migration of millions of people and conflict over water or food supplies.
'Science is clear''Science is clear'
Mr Miliband said: "We have always warned that climate change threatens national security because of the consequences for destabilisation of entire regions of the world, mass migration of millions of people and conflict over water or food supplies.
"But the events of the last few weeks have shown this is a national security issue in our own country too, with people's homes, businesses and livelihoods come under attack from extreme weather."But the events of the last few weeks have shown this is a national security issue in our own country too, with people's homes, businesses and livelihoods come under attack from extreme weather.
"And we know this will happen more in the future. The science is clear. The public know there is a problem."And we know this will happen more in the future. The science is clear. The public know there is a problem.
"But because of political division in Westminster we are sleepwalking into a national security crisis on climate change."But because of political division in Westminster we are sleepwalking into a national security crisis on climate change.
"The terrible events of the last few weeks should serve as a wake-up call for us all.""The terrible events of the last few weeks should serve as a wake-up call for us all."
Labour has called for more action to tackle climate change including a cross-party agreement for a 2030 decarbonisation target and greater efforts to reach international agreements on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Mr Miliband's comments coincide with the release of new research, which suggests the main system that helps determine the weather over northern Europe and North America may be changing.
It said the independent Committee for Climate Change should do a full assessment of the policy response to extreme weather conditions caused by climate change and preparedness for future floods. The study, presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago, showed the so-called jet stream has increasingly taken a longer, meandering path resulting in weather remaining the same for more prolonged periods.
Labour said a greater priority should be given to flood defence and protection. Last week, the Met Office's chief scientist Dame Julia Slingo said there was "no definitive answer" as to what had caused the period of stormy weather in the UK but that "all the evidence suggests there is a link to climate change".
It also wants the government to invest more in the green economy and increase the powers of the Green Investment Bank. Labour has called for more action to tackle climate change including a cross-party agreement for a 2030 decarbonisation target, and greater efforts to reach international agreements on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The Committee for Climate Change said that while the extra government money would bring some comfort to flooded communities it would not address the rising long-term flood risk. It said the independent Committee for Climate Change - which advises the government on emissions targets and climate change - should do a full assessment of the policy response to extreme weather conditions caused by climate change and preparedness for future floods.
The committee said ministers needed to increase significantly the amount they planned to spend on flood and coastal defences if it was to make up a projected shortfall. And it said a greater priority should be given to flood defence and protection.
Changing jet stream 'Some comfort'
In its latest blog, the committee said of the extra £130m: "The new money will bring at least some comfort to those communities around the country who have seen exceptional weather this winter. The committee itself said that while an extra £130m pledged by the government would bring some comfort to flooded communities, it would not address the rising long-term flood risk.
"It will primarily be spent on repairing and reinstating defences that have been damaged in the recent storms. It will help us recover existing levels of protection, back to where we were a few months ago. It said ministers needed to increase significantly the amount they planned to spend on flood and coastal defences if it was to make up a projected shortfall.
"It is expected to be a temporary funding boost, coming from Defra's contingency reserves rather than as a permanent addition to the floods budget." In its latest blog, the committee said: "The new money will bring at least some comfort to those communities around the country who have seen exceptional weather this winter.
"It will primarily be spent on repairing and reinstating defences that have been damaged in the recent storms. It will help us recover existing levels of protection, back to where we were a few months ago."
But it added: "So the additional funding won't materially address the rising long-term flood risk given the latest assessment of the investment need.But it added: "So the additional funding won't materially address the rising long-term flood risk given the latest assessment of the investment need.
"As we have previously stated, by 2015 we are on course to spend half a billion pounds less on flood and coastal defence over this Parliament than the amount needed to avoid more homes becoming at significant risk over time. This remains the case.""As we have previously stated, by 2015 we are on course to spend half a billion pounds less on flood and coastal defence over this Parliament than the amount needed to avoid more homes becoming at significant risk over time. This remains the case."
It came as research suggested the main system that helps determine the weather over northern Europe and North America may be changing. Live flood warnings from the Environment Agency
The study showed the so-called jet stream has increasingly taken a longer, meandering path resulting in weather remaining the same for more prolonged periods.
The work was presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, in Chicago.