The full list of 'key risks' facing the UK - including energy disaster and another pandemic
03.08.2023 - 11:31
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A new government list has outlined the key risks facing the UK, including a potential future pandemic and disruptions to global energy supplies.
The Cabinet Office has published the National Risk Register (NRR), a register aimed at keeping Britain prepared for "worst-case scenarios". Assessments were made to determine the impact of each risk as well as how many lives could be lost via expert data modelling.
The chance of another pandemic now falls between 5 per cent and 25 per cent and would be "catastrophic". Meanwhile, impact assessments for weather events like heatwaves and storms range from a "significant" to a "moderate" risk with a likelihood between one per cent and 25 per cent.
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Mr Dowden said: “This is the most comprehensive risk assessment we’ve ever published, so that Government and our partners can put robust plans in place and be ready for anything. One of those rising risks is energy security.
"We’ve installed the first turbine at the future world’s largest offshore wind farm, which will provide secure, low-cost and clean energy for the British people – enabling us to stand up to (Russian president Vladimir) Putin’s energy ransom.”
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Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sparked concern over the potential threat of disruption to global energy supplies and was one of the public risks newly added in 2023. Despite this, its likelihood is relatively low, being assessed between 0.2 per cent and 1 per cent.
This year's register also shares some previously classified information and takes into account recent high-profile events. For example, it