Senior British MEP Graham Watson has called for the creation of an EU special representative on climate security.

His demand comes after parliament last week debated what role the EU's security and defence policy should play in climate-driven natural disasters.

Watson, who is chairman of a global parliamentary network called the Climate Parliament, warned of the "security implications" of climate change.

The former ALDE group leader said, "We have to face the facts. Just this week the World Bank published a report showing that, without more radical action, we are likely to warm our planet by an average of three degrees celsius, and possibly even four degrees celsius.

"That means more tropical storms, sea level rise and drought. We cannot afford this - my own constituency of south west England has recently seen torrential rain and over 50 flood warnings across Bristol, Somerset and Devon."

"These climate impacts - whether they come with a bang or are a gradual drip-drip process - will have security implications. It could be water wars, drought-fuelled famines or flood refugees. We would be fools to not start thinking about the military implications now."

Watson, a British Liberal MEP, said the commission should ensure that climate security is "mainstreamed" in all areas of EU common security and defence policy reports, spending and strategy.

He added, "I would also add that we need an EU special representative on climate security. I fear that without one very little would happen."

His call for such as post was backed last week by parliament's foreign affairs committee.

For the complete article, please see TheParliament.com.