A warning from the Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, Wera Hobhouse, that climate change will drive future migration, conflict and water shortages.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs Hobhouse highlighted the growing threat posed by water scarcity and climate-driven displacement.
When she warned that communities around the world would be forced to move as climate impacts worsen, Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform UK, interjected: “Shut the borders!”
Responding directly, Mrs Hobhouse told the House: “They will come, and you will shut the borders, but we will have wars over water shortages. We absolutely will. It sounds alarmist, but we can do something about it. We should not put our heads in the sand.”
Her comments come as Britain experiences record-breaking temperatures during an unprecedented June heatwave. The UK has recorded its hottest June day ever, with temperatures exceeding 36°C, prompting rare red heat-health alerts, school closures and transport disruption. Scientists have warned that climate change is making these extreme heat events more frequent and more severe.
The United Nations has identified water scarcity as one of the defining challenges of the climate crisis. More than two billion people already lack access to safe drinking water, while roughly half the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. The UN warns that climate change is worsening droughts, disrupting rainfall patterns and increasing pressure on already-stretched water supplies.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said:
“Climate change has no borders. The droughts, floods, heatwaves and water shortages driving instability across the world will not be stopped by border controls.
“The climate crisis is not a distant threat; it is here now. As Britain endures record-breaking temperatures, people around the world are already being displaced by drought, extreme weather and water shortages.
“Anyone genuinely concerned about migration should be serious about tackling its causes. Climate change is becoming one of the greatest drivers of displacement and instability across the globe.
“Turning our backs on the evidence and pretending these challenges do not exist will only make the problem worse. We have a choice: act now to reduce emissions and build resilience, or face a future with greater instability, more conflict over resources and larger movements of people. We still have time to act, but that window is closing.”
