People’s Emergency Briefing: On the Climate and Nature Crisis

This new and exciting initiative, showing in hundreds of community spaces over the country, aims to inform people about the climate and nature crisis while at the same time providing the agency to respond, grasping the opportunities that this crisis represents, and giving government the mandate to act.   In November last year, more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media gathered at Westminster Central Hall for a landmark national briefing delivered by leading climate scientists and other UK experts. The event opened with broadcaster Chris Packham, who called for clear public understanding of the risks facing the UK. The experts then addressed the implications of climate and nature breakdown for food security, health, national security, infrastructure and the economy, alongside practical evidence on how risks can still be reduced.

A film, the People’s Emergency Briefing, has been made, based on this event and is now being rolled out all over the UK, with many showings organised in Bristol.  The film, which runs for about 45 minutes, is followed by a facilitated discussion on the implications and opportunities for people locally.

Local MPs, councillors and community leaders are being invited to attend and will be encouraged to take part in discussing how to respond as a community.  Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West, has committed to attending as many showings of the film in his constituency as he can manage, in order to support his constituents in action going forward.

Chris Packham has said:
“I’d encourage people everywhere to attend a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing. It creates exactly the kind of honest local conversation we now urgently need, both about what these changes mean where we live, and about what we can do together to address them.”

The aim is to create a non-political space for a calm local conversation about issues that increasingly affect all of us. The event is open to anyone who wants to come, whatever their starting point and whatever their views or concerns.

The National Emergency Briefing is supported by organisations across conservation, education, faith and civil society, including the Church of England, WWF, the National Trust, CPRE and the Royal Meteorological Society.

Screening Map: www.nebriefing.org/screening-map
Website (with further details): www.nebriefing.org