National Emergency Briefing
‘This is the least extreme weather you will experience in (the rest of) your lifetime’
(Prof Hayley Fowler)
On 27th November, over 1,200 people gathered at Westminster Central Hall, including around 150 Parliamentarians, along with senior civil servants, business leaders, faith voices, cultural and sport figures and community leader. Brenda Ainsley and Eleanor Brooks were invited to attend, to represent the u3a.
u3a next steps:
- The online group 'Climate Matters' will be adding an extra session to their calendar on Friday 8th May. This will feature a full screening of the film followed by a Q and A session. The event is open to all u3a members, not just those in the Climate Matters group.
- The u3a Learning Team will be hosting an online National Learning Event in July (exact date to be confirmed) which will showcase selected film clips and discussion. This event is also open to all u3a members.
Background:
The purpose of the event was to stage an official-style National Emergency Briefing* on the climate & nature crisis for politicians, business / council / faith leaders, the media and influential cultural figures—featuring a panel of plain-speaking experts. The speakers (all respected academics and experts), provided a frank assessment of our current trajectory but also painted a vision of a hopeful, more resilient future—achievable with courage and vision. The emphasis was on focusing on what the crisis will mean for ordinary people over the coming years. A professional film of the event will form the basis of a national campaign, with grassroots groups supported to screen it in community spaces.
Mike Berners-Lee (who spoke to the u3a a couple of years ago) introduced all the speakers and drew out threads we could take away.
Chris Packham gave the introductory talk, stressing how we only have one planet and we can either learn to live in harmony with it again, or to continue on our path to destruction of the human race.
We heard how nature is critical infrastructure for our comfortable lifestyles. It was pointed out that prosperous citizens need to reign in an often wasteful lifestyle, how we need to drive down energy use, and as a society change our diet to be plant rich. Our natural systems are breaking down, including soil, water and rivers, peatland and woodlands.
Comment was made about how there is enough for everyone to have a good lifestyle; changes should focus on the lower and middle-earners in order to be accepted. Taxes need to be aligned with what we are trying to achieve and we must stop funding harm.
Key messages included:
- Reduce flying
- Insulate our homes
- Use renewable energy
- Electrify
- Reduce the amount of meat eaten
‘What is good for nature is good for humans; renewables benefit the economy and our welfare as well as the planet’.
* This event was the first ever official-style National Emergency Briefing on Climate and Nature. A range of fantastic experts together presented a powerful account of the interconnected threats facing the UK, alongside the actions that science suggests are necessary.
The aim was to help trigger a social tipping point—similar to the Covid briefings—and put the climate and nature emergency firmly into the national media. The goal was to break out of the climate bubble, to discuss the emergency openly, and to create irresistible pressure on MPs to back legally binding, science-led action on both mitigation and adaptation.
This organisers feel that this event showed that Britain is ready for a ‘hard reset’ in how we confront this crisis, that the age of warnings is over and that we are already living with the impacts of climate change.
This initiative was led and funded by Simon Oldridge and Nick Oldridge. Dr Alison Green led on strategic coordination with universities, focusing on establishing a network of academic ambassadors. The co-founders of Climate Science Breakthrough—Ben Carey, and Henrik Delehag— provided creative and strategic direction, with Dr Abi Perrin advising on science. The advisory panel included Sandy Trust of the Institute & Faculty of Actuaries, Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh, and James Whitehead of Rewriting Earth.
The talks are available online:
Opening Statement (12 min) - Chris Packham
Introduction (5 min) - Prof Mike Berners-Lee
Nature (13 min) - Prof Nathalie Seddon
Climate (14 min) - Prof Kevin Anderson
Extreme Weather (12 min) - Prof Hayley Fowler
Tipping Points (13 min) - Prof Tim Lenton
Food Security (13 min) - Prof Paul Behrens
Health (12 min) - Prof Hugh Montgomery
National Security (12 min) - Lt General Richard Nugee
Economics (13 min) - Angela Francis
Energy Transition (10 min) - Tessa Khan.
These have been condensed into a 45-minute professionally-produced film. For it to be effective it needs to be seen widely, and not just by people who are already convinced of the need for climate action: this is where you and your u3a can make a difference. The film is released on 7th April: it comes with supporting materials to help local organisers to introduce it and manage a discussion, and all of this is free. To express interest in showing the film use this form.
Page owner: Brenda Ainsley
4 March 2026