Government officials said that Britain is urging the UN Security Council to address climate change, with the goal of emphasizing its potential threat to global stability. The UK is set to assume the presidency of the United Nations in April, and ministers see this as an opportune time to bring the issue to the forefront of the international agenda, given its prominence at recent EU and G8 summits. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who are both strong proponents of action on climate change, are leading the effort. A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed that climate change is a top priority for the Prime Minister, while a Foreign Office official stated that the goal is to establish climate security as a key foreign policy issue. We believe that climate change has the potential to worsen many of the global tensions and conflicts that exist. The official declined to comment on reports that Britain had faced opposition from the United States and South Africa in its efforts to address climate change. Many government ministers are optimistic about the growing recognition of climate change's impact and the goals set for cutting 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 taking action within the next 10 years during a speech to the UN general assembly last September. Experts are cautioning that climate change could lead to severe tensions in already unstable regions like the Middle East by depleting resources. International Alert recently issued a warning that global warming has the potential to trigger conflicts in various parts of the world. Dan Smith, the head of IA, stated that as habitats become uninhabitable, people will be forced to relocate, putting strain on areas already struggling with limited resources. In Kenya's Rift Valley, disputes over water rights have already escalated due to the area becoming increasingly arid. Deforestation has caused disputes in various areas, including South East Asia.