News from a World in Flux Ep. 37: Why nature loss is a national security risk, with James Bullock *Live*

Extinction Rebellion’s co-founder Clare Farrell and conservation scientist Dr Charlie Gardner team up once more to discuss issues and stories they feel are not getting enough airtime. They want to make sure that the latest news in science and important reports that are relevant to the climate and ecological crisis are flagged and explained in ways that are easy to understand.

EPISODE 37: Why nature loss is a national security risk, with James Bullock

Recorded live at an Extinction Rebellion Love & Rage event, Clare and Charlie are joined by Professor James Bullock for a special "live" episode to unpack what climate breakdown is already doing to nature in Britain and beyond and what it means for our security. They explain how extreme heat, drought and fire are scorching ecosystems, why species can't keep pace as the seasons shift out of sync, and why collapse is "a process, not an event". They explore what failing ecosystems mean for our food and livelihoods and why the government's redacted report on nature collapse and national security matters. Finally, they ask: what can we actually do about all this?

REFERENCES

Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security (UK Government national security assessment, January 2026, redacted version)
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0eae719d837d69afc7de/National_security_assessment_-_global_biodiversity_loss__ecosystem_collapse_and_national_security.pdf

Zack Polanski demands full release of report warning of ecosystem collapse (Novara Media, 9 Sept 2026)
https://novaramedia.com/2026/09/09/zack-polanski-demands-full-release-of-report-warning-of-ecosystem-collapse/

In the Climate Emergency, Conservation Must Become Survival Ecology (Gardner & Bullock, Frontiers in Conservation Science, 2021)
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.659912

Tritrophic phenological match-mismatch in space and time: oaks, caterpillars and birds (Woodland Trust Nature's Calendar) https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk/analysis/research-reports/2017/tritrophic-phenological-match-mismatch-in-space-and-time/

Mountain pine beetle outbreaks and climate change in British Columbia (Forests.org)
https://forests.org/foresters-blog-mountain-pine-beetle/

The continuing plight of Lough Neagh (British Wildlife)
https://www.britishwildlife.com/?p=30154

30x30: guide to Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (IUCN)
https://iucn.org/resources/grey-literature/30x30-guide-inclusive-equitable-and-effective-implementation-target-3

Zero Hour campaign
https://www.zerohour.uk

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