Government officials stated that Britain is urging the UN Security Council to address climate change in order to emphasize its potential impact on global stability. With Britain set to assume the presidency of the United Nations in April, ministers believe that this is the opportune time to elevate the issue to the highest level of the international forum, especially considering its prominence at EU and G8 summits. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who are strong advocates for action on climate change, are leading this initiative. Downing Street confirmed that climate change is a top priority for the Prime Minister, while a Foreign Office official expressed the desire to make climate security a key foreign policy issue. "We believe that climate change has the potential to worsen many of the global insecurities that contribute to global tension and conflict," stated the official. They chose not to address rumors in newspapers about Britain facing opposition from the United States and South Africa regarding their climate change plans. Government ministers are optimistic about the increasing acknowledgement of the potential impacts of climate change and the goals set for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the EU summit. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, a former environment minister, has warned that failure to address climate change could lead to famine, water shortages, and energy infrastructure failures, posing a threat to global security. Beckett emphasized the importance of developed countries taking action in the next decade in her speech at the UN general assembly last September. Experts have cautioned that climate change could lead to severe tensions in regions like the Middle East due to a significant reduction in resources. International Alert, a prominent conflict resolution organization, has highlighted the risk of global warming causing conflicts in various parts of the world. According to IA head Dan Smith, as habitats become uninhabitable, people will be forced to relocate, potentially exacerbating already fragile situations in regions with inadequate resources. For example, conflicts over water rights have already occurred in Kenya's Rift Valley as the area becomes drier. Deforestation has caused disputes in multiple areas, such as South East Asia.