Minister advises households to prepare for extreme weather and food supply risks

Households should prepare for extreme weather by stocking up on food as the strongest El Niño event in a generation develops over the Pacific Ocean, according to Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle. She stated that this powerful natural climate phenomenon will likely lead to more extreme storms in the UK. Her remarks followed a warning from the National Audit Office (NAO) about the vulnerability of Britain's food supply chain due to increasing cyber-attacks and the climate crisis. The NAO indicated that the government is overly reliant on the private sector to manage food supply disruptions and plans to unveil a strategy for national emergencies later this year. Dame Angela Eagle emphasized the importance of being prepared, stating, "If you've got a store of a bit of food that can keep you going for a while before the emergency services can get to you, you're going to be a lot better off than if you haven't." The NAO report also highlighted that Britain's food supply chain faces risks from disease outbreaks, cyber-attacks, and extreme weather, with climate change posing a long-term threat. The report noted that disruptions could increase food prices and leave vulnerable populations struggling to afford food. The NAO urged the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) to enhance supply chain resilience and learn from other countries that are better prepared for emergencies. Defra acknowledged the complexities of food supply risks and stated that it is collaborating with farmers and industry to improve resilience. In July, the government announced plans to outline steps households can take to prepare for food and water shortages due to extreme weather or cyber-attacks, aiming to align UK emergency preparedness with European standards by the end of 2026. Phil Pluck, chief executive of the Cold Chain Federation, warned that Britain is nearing a crisis due to threats from cyber-hackers and other disruptions, advocating for sensible stocking of food in households. He stated that the government will advise the public on this matter in the autumn.