Climate change is undeniably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, existential threat facing humanity. It is, however, quite difficult to grasp, and understand the impacts it currently has, and will have, not only on the most vulnerable countries but also in the United Kingdom and in Portsmouth. Emil Hallqvist reports on what this means for Portsmouth and what local people can do about it.
To address this problem, leading experts and concerned citizens hosted the National Emergency Briefing (NEB) at Westminister Hall in November 2025 before more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media.
The briefing had three aims: highlight the negative effects climate change will likely have on the UK, including its impacts on food security, health, national security, infrastructure and the economy; what an effective national response requires; and showcase practical evidence on how these risks can still be reduced.
Broadcaster Chris Packham opened the briefing and stressed the importance of clearly and honestly informing both members of Parliament and the public about the ecological crisis. That briefing has now been adapted into a film, distributed as the People’s Emergency Briefing. The film was designed to be showcased at community screenings across the UK in public venues, such as libraries, churches, cinemas and schools.
Each screening is intended as a civic event, where local MPs, councillors and community leaders are invited to attend and hear directly how both constituents and members of the public respond and react to the evidence presented.
On the 30th of April, Portsmouth Climate Collective hosted the first public screening in the Buckingham Building. Portsmouth Climate Collective was established shortly after the briefing last November, and is a group of concerned citizens and local climate and nature organisations, including Portsmouth Climate Action, Greenpeace Portsmouth, Turning Tides, Portsmouth Friends of the Earth and faith groups.
A large and diverse crowd had come to the venue on the evening of the screening. The evening opened with members of Portsmouth Climate Collective introducing the organisation and the briefing before the 45-minute film started. From the outset, they made it clear that this was an opportunity, not only to be informed, but to express how the film and climate change impacted each individual emotionally. All feelings, be they anger, disgust, hope, fear, despair or indifference, were welcomed. This was a safe space for thoughtful discussion – not hostility.
After the film had ended, the attendees broke into small facilitated groups, shared how they felt watching the film, and then looked at ways citizens and community members can respond to these issues.
There was hope among the young and the old, for the film showcased that there are concrete strategies to combat climate change. The technology and knowledge exist, and the solutions are quite simple. Now, it is about action. But all people were not jolly. There was frustration and anger. Many felt disappointed with the government and broader society for neglecting the warning signs in favour of protecting the status quo. And there were those who worried for the present and the future, and if there was any point in trying.
But it was not all grey and gloomy. As the discussion session neared its end, the organisers encouraged each member to engage with their community and join any of the local climate groups part of the collective. Only by collective action can anything be accomplished, and that message echoed long after the lights had turned off and the guests had left the venue.
May 8th at Cinema No.6, Central Portsmouth.
May 15th at the Church of the Resurrection, Drayton.
May 16th at Southsea Cinema, Southsea.
May 30th at Portsmouth Cathedral, Old Portsmouth.
The event is free and tickets can be booked through links on PCA’s website.
Further information about the National Emergency Briefing and the wider screening programme is available here.
Or via the national NEB website.
Photo courtesy of Portsmouth Climate Action.
