Copernicus highlights 'exceptional' wet conditions: comment
February 2026 was the fifth warmest on record, at 1.49°C above pre-industrial levels, with extreme rainfall and widespread flooding in western Europe and the third-lowest sea ice extent in the Arctic.
By Gareth Redmond-King
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Commenting on a new report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service [1], Gareth Redmond-King, Head of International Programme at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said:
“Several food experts and academics [2,3] have warned recently of growing risks to Britain' food security - including the threat that shortages could lead to civil unrest. A major driver of that risk is the chaotic extremes caused by worsening climate change, for which we know that net zero is the only solution we have.
"Our food security relies heavily on imports, with more than £5bn of imports last year from just three countries - Spain, Portugal and Morocco - that were particularly badly hit by the extreme wet weather in February. [4] These dangers only get harder and more costly to solve, the longer it takes us to heed these warnings, and act to get to net zero to halt climate change in its tracks.”
Notes to editors:
1. Copernicus: https://climate.copernicus.eu/copernicus-exceptionally-wet-conditions-western-europe-during-fifth-warmest-february-globally-0
2. The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/07/uk-stockpile-food-climate-shocks-war
3. National Security Assessment: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/696e0eae719d837d69afc7de/National_security_assessment_-_global_biodiversity_loss__ecosystem_collapse_and_national_security.pdf
4.
| Crop | Country | Q1 2025 (£ value of imports) | Total 2025 (£ value of imports) | Q1 2025 (% of imports) | Total 2025 (% of imports) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sweet peppers | Spain | £93m | £170m | 70% | 36% |
Morocco | £4.2m | £13m | 3% | 3% | |
Portugal | £7500 | £282,000 | |||
Cucumbers | Spain | £48m | £121m | 61% | 38% |
Morocco | £3.5m | £7m | 4.5% | 2% | |
Portugal | N/A | £47,000 | 2% | ||
Cauliflowers and broccoli | Spain | £68m | £151m | 78% | 68% |
Morocco | £2.2m | £4m | 2% | 2% | |
Portugal | £197,000 | £973,000 | |||
Strawberries | Spain | £76m | £129m | 53% | 37% |
Morocco | £25m | £31m | 18% | 9% | |
Portugal | £56,000 | £56,000 | |||
Raspberries | Spain | £10m | £53m | 14% | 23% |
Morocco | £50m | £133m | 70% | 59% | |
Portugal | £3m | £15m | 4% | 6% | |
Blueberries and cranberries | Spain | £2m | £61m | 3% | 16% |
Morocco | £38m | £104m | 38% | 28% | |
Portugal | £353,000 | £4m | 1% | ||
Tomatoes | Spain | £41m | £83m | 26% | 16% |
Morocco | £46m | £148m | 30% | 29% | |
Portugal | N/A | £52,000 |
For more information or for interview requests:
George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net