Government publishes a stark report on global environmental decline
The government has published an assessment of global ecosystem and biodiversity decline and its impact on UK security. The report was put together by the Joint Intelligence Committee, which oversees the UK security services. Other departments across government also contributed.
The report was supposed to be published in October 2025 but was reportedly delayed until January 2026 because the government thought it was too negative.
The report highlights how severe degradation or collapse of six critical ecosystem regions across the world will likely lead to geopolitical competition and instability. The six ecosystem regions include the Amazon rainforest and the boreal forests of Canada and Russia. According to the report, impacts of ecosystem collapse are changed global weather patterns, displacement of millions of people, crop failure, food and water insecurity and infectious disease outbreaks.
The report includes stark assessments, such as, ‘There is a realistic possibility some ecosystems start to collapse by 2030 or sooner.’ and ‘It would take resources of 1.6 Earths to sustain the world’s current levels of consumption’.
Land use change, pollution, consumption and climate change are some of the drivers causing global environmental decline, according to the report.
UK food security is also covered. Currently, the UK imports 40% of its food from abroad, according to the report. Palm oil is an ingredient in almost 50% of packaged food products, the report states. Complete food security for the UK would involve higher prices for consumers. However, the report indicates that that some solutions are in reach. For example, the report points out that ‘protecting and restoring ecosystems is easier, cheaper and more reliable’ than relying on technology alone to increase food security.