British government officials announced on Thursday that they are urging the UN Security Council to address climate change in order to emphasize its potential threat to global stability. With Britain set to assume the presidency of the United Nations in April, ministers believe the timing is right to bring this important issue to the highest level of the international forum, especially as it has already been a focus at European Union and G8 summits. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, both strong supporters of action on climate change, are leading this initiative. According to a Downing Street spokeswoman, climate change is a top priority for the Prime Minister, while a Foreign Office official stated that they aim to make climate security a key foreign policy issue. The official did not comment on reports that Britain is facing opposition from the United States and South Africa regarding their idea to address climate change. Many government ministers are optimistic about the growing recognition of climate change's potential impact and the goals set at the EU summit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has warned that failure to address climate change could lead to global security threats such as famine, water shortages, and energy infrastructure failures. Beckett emphasized the importance of developed countries taking action within the next 10 years. Experts are cautioning that climate change could lead to severe tensions in already volatile regions like the Middle East by depleting resources. International Alert, a conflict resolution charity, recently warned that global warming could spark conflicts in various parts of the world as people are forced to migrate due to unsustainable habitats. Dan Smith, the head of IA, pointed out that if people move to areas already struggling with limited resources, it could worsen an already fragile situation. For example, in Kenya's Rift Valley, there has been fighting over water rights as the region becomes increasingly arid. Deforestation in various regions, such as South East Asia, has resulted in conflicts.