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People’s Emergency Briefing: Here Because We Care

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Ric Casale

Turning the momentum created by the People's Emergency Briefing into action at all levels.

Isabelle Sparrow interviews Abie Raynsford at the People's Emergency Briefing event in Wymondham.

Carbon Copy Podcast host Isabelle Sparrow interviewing an attendee at the People's Emergency Briefing event in Wymondham

Despite the scale of the risks facing the UK today from climate change, there has been no comprehensive national emergency briefing delivered to the public by the Government.

So an event was held in London at the end of last year, where ten of the UK’s leading experts briefed an invited audience of more than 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media.

Its purpose was to demonstrate what a clear, evidence-led national emergency briefing could look like and why it’s needed.

In the words of Nick Oldridge who co-led this gathering at Westminster of the great and the good, “We always knew a second part was coming. We would leave this calling card and then come back with phase two, which is about going via constituencies to get to the MPs.”

What has followed from April this year is a wave of community screenings across the UK based on the content of this national emergency briefing.

Inevitably, the public reaction is igniting a much bigger conversation.

Yes, we need our MPs to step up and represent the silent majority who not only are concerned about the climate crisis and the risks to everyday life but also want bolder action to ensure our safety.

However, this is too important to be left to politicians.

Many leaders and volunteers in local communities have already put measures in place to curb carbon emissions; adapt to the impacts of extreme weather events; increase their community’s resilience and regenerate the local environment.

The bigger conversation is about what more we can do about this emergency right now, in the places where we live and work. How to copy what’s already working because we don’t have time to reinvent the wheel. As Nick says in our latest podcast episode, we’ve got the tools to do the job in hand; we don’t need to wait for something to be invented or for someone to give us permission.

Having watched this briefing at a local screening in Newham, I was glad to chat with the people around me afterwards. It doesn’t pull any punches and I felt bruised by what the experts had to say. It’s by design and not accident that we are encouraged to watch this film together – so we can discuss how we feel and what we can do about it.

As much as anything shared at the end in the film, the sense of hope from the briefing comes from the interactions afterwards in the room and in the months that follow. That’s when the real message hits home, that we’re here because we care. And when people care, there’s no stopping them.

If you’re curious to hear more from Nick and get a feel for one of these local screenings, please listen (or watch) our latest Carbon Copy Podcast episode, A Local National Emergency.

You’ll have the backdrop and inside view on the National Emergency Briefing at Westminster as well as be a fly on the wall as Isabelle helps organise and host her community screening in Wymondham, Norfolk.

If you would like to learn more about hosting the film in your own area, head over to this useful page about screening the People’s Emergency Briefing.

And if you feel ready to act, or are already doing great stuff, please turn to our high-impact climate action guide, From Footprint to Changeprint, that helps you work more effectively with others so you can make an even bigger impact together.

What is the People’s Emergency Briefing?

The People’s Emergency Briefing is a filmed, evidence-led briefing about the climate risks facing the UK and why they should be treated with the seriousness of a national emergency. It was first shared at an event in Westminster, where ten leading UK experts briefed an invited audience of more than 1,200 people from politics, business, culture, faith, sport and the media.

The briefing was created to show what clear public communication on the climate crisis could look like. It sets out the scale of the risks, but also opens up a wider conversation about how people, communities and leaders can respond with care, urgency and practical action.

Why are local screenings of the People’s Emergency Briefing taking place?

Local screenings are taking place so people across the UK can watch the briefing together, talk about what it means and consider what action is needed in their own communities. Since April, these screenings have helped move the conversation beyond Westminster and into the places where people live, work and organise.

This matters because the climate emergency affects everyday life, from extreme weather and public health to food, homes, transport and local resilience. Watching the briefing as a community gives people a shared starting point, helping them process the information together and think about what can be done locally.

Why does the People’s Emergency Briefing focus on community action?

The People’s Emergency Briefing highlights community action because many of the tools needed to respond to the climate crisis already exist. Across the UK, local leaders, volunteers, organisations and residents are already reducing carbon emissions, preparing for extreme weather, improving local resilience and restoring nature.

The bigger question is how these ideas can be shared and copied more widely. Communities do not need to start from scratch or wait for perfect solutions. By learning from what is already working elsewhere, local areas can act more quickly and make a bigger impact together.

Do we still need political action on climate change?

Political action is still essential, especially when it comes to national policy, infrastructure, funding and public safety. The briefing makes clear that MPs and other decision-makers need to represent the many people who are concerned about the climate crisis and want stronger action to protect everyday life.

At the same time, the response cannot rest with politicians alone. Local communities have agency right now. They can build momentum, demonstrate what works, support one another and show leaders that there is public demand for bold, practical climate action.

What can I do after watching the People’s Emergency Briefing?

After watching the People’s Emergency Briefing, a good next step is to talk with others about what stood out, how it made you feel and what it could mean for your local area. The hope in the briefing comes from what happens afterwards, when people connect, share ideas and begin to see themselves as part of a wider response.

You could explore hosting a screening in your own area, support climate action already happening locally or use Carbon Copy’s high-impact climate action guide, From Footprint to Changeprint, to work more effectively with others. The message behind the briefing is simple but powerful: people are here because they care, and care can become action.

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Ric Casale