National Emergency Briefing
On 27 November 2025, Westminster Hall hosted a National Emergency Briefing, bringing together more than 1,200 invited politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport, and the media. Introduced by Chris Packham CBE, ten of the UK’s foremost experts addressed the audience on the threats posed by climate change and nature loss - along with the opportunities from genuine emergency action.
- Chair: Professor Mike Berners-Lee
- Weather Extremes: Professor Hayley Fowler
- Climate: Professor Kevin Anderson
- Tipping Points: Professor Tim Lenton OBE
- Nature: Professor Nathalie Seddon
- Food Security: Professor Paul Behrens
- Health: Professor Hugh Montgomery OBE
- National Security: Lt General Richard Nugee, CBE
- Economics: Angela Francis
- Energy Transition: Tessa Khan
This National Emergency Briefing has since been adapted into a film for public release: the People’s Emergency Briefing. The goal is to reset the national conversation and secure a government-led televised emergency briefing from independent experts - an essential first step towards the emergency action now needed.
Screening of the People's Emergency Briefing in Crich
By Clare Limb, September 2026
The planning and preparation was done, and the day of the screening finally
arrived. Excitement was running high with our planning group which involved people
from both St Mary’s Church and Transition Crich who had come together to make the
screening happen.
As people began to arrive, the atmosphere in the church began to change to one of
focus and concentration. Attendees sat quietly and completed the pre-screening
survey (provided by the University of Bath) and waited patiently for the event to
begin.
At 3pm Sophy, from St Mary’s Church, opened the event with a welcome to everyone
and outlined what would be happening over the course of the afternoon as well as
the provisions that we had made for people should they need it such as a quiet
space or a comfort break.
The screening lasted 50 minutes, followed by a discussion which I facilitated. I guided small group discussions, asking participants to share three words that captured their immediate feelings after watching the film. Our roving mike runners collected these responses, which we turned into the word cloud pictured here.
Attendees also discussed what resonated most with them. Responses included Images from the film which were of people in power (World Leaders and fossil fuel bosses) shaking hands on decisions and practices that affect all of us, but which we don’t agree with. Frustration was voiced several times that this is not ‘news’ yet still so many people do not know, or choose not to, or are unable to engage with this information. Attendees also said what stayed with them most is that this is an emergency, however our leaders and government are not taking the necessary steps to avoid catastrophe.
I then prompted attendees to discuss ‘What feels like an appropriate response for you right now?’ giving people time to discuss this question thoroughly. The feedback was incredibly powerful as people began to show how much the climate crisis was affecting them.
One attendee said ‘we need to reach more people with this film by encouraging more screenings. We need to spread the word about this emergency.
I mentioned the call to constituents to lobby our MP - Rt Honourable Mr. John Whitby – who has already signed the Parliamentary call for a televised national briefing by the government but still needs constituents to help him build a strong evidence base to support him in this, as well as to enable him to encourage other MPs to join the call.
Statements from Councillor John Whitby and Councillor Kate Smith
Councillors from Crich Parish Council and Amber Valley Borough Council encouraged us to show support for action on the emergency to our Parish, Borough and County councils. Saying that without support from the electorate for strategies, policies and projects that build resilience, councilors and officers cannot act.
The age range of those attending was observed by one attendee as over 30. It was acknowledged that the format (of community screening) is unlikely to reach younger generations, and that they might need an alternative platform or place to engage with the issues on. The possibility of screening the film in sixth forms (16 – 18yrs) was discussed and it was agreed that this was an approach that the National Emergency Briefing group (NEB) were encouraging.
Final responses were around the impact of the recent heatwaves to local wildlife and the fact that some people (in positions of power) do not accept that climate change is man made.
The consensus was that we each have personal agency and responsibility in our lifestyle (and consumer) choices e.g. eating less meat, using less fuel, reducing our consumption of goods etc. These are things that everyone can do.
More options included choosing sustainable energies e.g. electric cars, heat pumps & solar panels, although it was acknowledged that some of these were costly to the individual.
The government Warm Homes scheme was recommended Apply for the Warm Homes: Local Grant to improve a home - GOV.UK
Lastly, I took us through the stages of active engagement which the PEB is designed to provoke. I reiterated the importance of writing to our MP to ask him to back the parliamentary call on our government for a Televised Live National Emergency Briefing, lead by the Prime Minister with leading scientists on the climate crisis; and secondly to highlight the importance of spreading the word to as many people as possible by encouraging people to host their own screenings at work or in their communities. Several people expressed interest in doing this before they left the church, which was most encouraging to our organising team.
The session ended with some information about the importance of renewables in the story of decelerating the pace of man-made climate change by Ian Reid, who has led on the Crich Parish Community Energy project for the past 18 months.
We concluded the afternoon with more informal discussions over coffee and cake, which took us well past 5pm!
The solutions are in our hands. Getting involved is about building safer communities, cutting costs, and creating a better future.