Government officials stated on Thursday that Britain is urging the UN Security Council to address climate change, emphasizing its potential threat to global stability. With Britain set to assume the presidency of the United Nations in April, ministers believe the timing is appropriate to elevate the issue to the highest level of the international forum, given its prominence in European Union and G8 summits. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, both strong proponents of action on climate change, are leading the initiative. A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed that climate change is a top priority for the Prime Minister, while a Foreign Office official expressed the desire to integrate climate security into foreign policy discussions. The speaker believes that climate change could worsen many of the global insecurities that contribute to tension and conflict worldwide. The official did not confirm or deny reports that Britain had faced opposition from the United States and South Africa while discussing the issue with other EU member states. Many government ministers are pleased with the increasing recognition of climate change's potential impact and are hopeful about the goals that will be set at the upcoming EU summit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, a former environment minister, has warned that failing 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 taking action in the next 10 years during a speech to the UN general assembly in September. Experts are cautioning that climate change could lead to severe tensions in already volatile regions like the Middle East due to a significant decrease in resources. International Alert, a prominent conflict resolution charity, recently stated that global warming has the potential to push entire regions into conflict. According to IA head Dan Smith, as certain habitats become uninhabitable, people will be forced to relocate. If the areas they move to are already struggling with limited resources, it will exacerbate an already delicate situation. For example, there has been conflict in Kenya's Rift Valley over water rights as the region becomes increasingly arid. Deforestation has resulted in disputes in multiple areas, such as South East Asia.