Our El Niño webinar
The People’s Emergency Briefing film passed the 3,000 screenings milestone this week and new screenings are being registered at a record pace, boosted by a feature in the Guardian’s Friday briefing last week describing the film as ‘a word-of-mouth phenomenon’ that’s ‘turning climate anxiety into action’.
Huge thanks to everyone reading this – you are helping make this happen!
So what’s next? Join us on Monday 12th October 1pm - 2pm UK BST for a special El Niño webinar. We're delighted to announce that we'll be joined by NEB extreme weather and food experts Professors Hayley Fowler and Paul Behrens who will outline why the record-breaking El Niño poses a serious threat to the UK - and why informing the public is more important than ever.
Dr Joanna Macrae, our Director of Political Engagement, will also give a quick update with advice on winning the support of your MP. Jo has worked for many years at a high level in the civil services - a huge advantage for us.
This event will be recorded. If you can't attend, please register anyway to receive a video after it ends. This webinar is open to all so please share with friends and family.
The first screening in a national parliament
Last night, a slightly shortened version of the People’s Emergency Briefing was screened at Holyrood, with keynotes from Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, and NEB Chair Professor Mike Berners-Lee.
We were delighted that the First Minister made time to attend, committing in his address to working collaboratively to ensure the film is "shared and understood very widely within Scotland". He called for people to appreciate both the significance of the climate and nature crisis and the necessity of acting on it. He also plans to watch the film with his constituents.
This is a major step, and we look forward to working across the political spectrum in Scotland to deepen public understanding of the climate and nature emergency and build support for a government emergency briefing. Perhaps the Scottish government will beat Westminster to it?
Please help spread the word by sharing our social media posts: Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Twitter - and thanking those involved (Instagram coming). Positive encouragement works and it will hopefully give Westminster politicians pause for thought.
Local Councils Join the Call
Across the UK, local councils are stepping up, and have registered over 300 screenings of the People’s Emergency Briefing for the public, council staff, and elected members.
Several local authorities have now passed cross-party motions calling on the government to deliver our key ask – a televised, live emergency briefing to the nation, introduced by the Prime Minister and delivered by independent experts. These include: Cornwall Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council, West Devon District Council, Southwark Council, and Liverpool City Council. Our thanks to all involved!
Whether you’re a councillor, a staff member, or a concerned resident, our councils resource pack has everything you need to encourage your local authority to engage with the People’s Emergency Briefing film and pass a motion in support. If you need any additional support please email councils@nebriefing.org
More MPs Join the Parliamentary Call
We’re pleased to welcome Anna Dixon, Stella Creasy, John McDonnell, Jon Pearce and Navendu Mishra to the list of cross-party MPs supporting our Parliamentary Call for a live emergency briefing by the government transmitted across TV and other media. This brings the running total to 164 MPs supporting either our Parliamentary Call or the EDM in Parliament calling for the same thing. We have a big name to announce next week.
With screenings happening all across the UK – and even in the Arctic! – now is the time to ask your MP to join the call.
Petition Update
Chris Packham’s petition for a government briefing passed 100k signatures (thank you!) and is now with the Parliamentary Petition Committee and we’re waiting to hear when it will be debated by MPs. We understand the committee has a backlog of petitions waiting to be heard. In the meantime, please do keep sharing it – every extra signature over 100k shows how many people want the government to act.
Could you send the link to three people who haven’t signed it yet - better, or perhaps just forward this email?
International
The People’s Emergency Briefing is travelling the world! If you have friends or family overseas, please do let them know about this initiative - particularly if they're in Netherlands which will be the first country to replicate the NEB with a high profile event set to take place on 17th November - Nationale Noodbriefing - featuring world class experts and a well-known host. You can also follow the German NEB here on LinkedIn.
Screenings have taken place or are planned in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, the UK and the US, plus the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey - and even in the Arctic (Svalbard, Norway).
And thanks to dedicated volunteers, the film comes with subtitle options in Arabic, Bengali, Czech, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish and Welsh.
In Need of Climate Comedy Relief?
And finally, if you want to laugh off your climate angst, the funniest person in climate is still on tour across the UK. Check out Stuart Goldsmith’s new show CANARY. ‘Stuart was as scared about the climate crisis as you are. But he did the reading, and now he's terrified. Come and watch him do something about it.’ See Stuart's tour dates.
We'd like to express our gratitude to the hundreds of thousands of people across the UK and beyond coming together around the National Emergency Briefing initiative to create a wave of positive change.
With very best wishes
Simon and Nick, and the rest of the NEB team
