04 May 2026
A strong turnout at St Albans Cathedral saw more than 300 people gather for the launch screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing with a discussion on local implications for the community.
Last November, 10 of the UK’s leading scientists and experts on climate and nature issues, presented a National Emergency Briefing in Westminster to an invited audience of more than 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media. Subjects included climate science, food security, public health, national security, flooding, heatwaves, nature, infrastructure stress and economic stability.
This event was part of a wider UK programme of screenings aimed at helping communities engage with the climate and nature crisis.
The initiative has been supported by naturalist Chris Packham, who said: ”I’d encourage people everywhere to attend a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing. This new film creates exactly the kind of honest local conversation we now urgently need, both about the threat from climate and nature breakdown, but also about what we can do, together with our politicians, to build a better future.”
The film is now being screened at more than 1,000 venues across the UK, with further screenings planned in St Albans.
The PEB film event was organised by St Albans Green Action Network and opened by Will Gibbs, canon for mission and pastoral care, Chapter lead on safeguarding and the environment at St Albans Cathedral. The evening was facilitated by Gail Jackson and colleagues on behalf of the Green Action Network.
Nick Oldridge, co-founder of the National Emergency Briefing said afterwards: “Fantastic to see – this was our very first screening in a cathedral.”
Following the screening, participants were invited to share their thoughts and feelings and to explore ideas for local, collective action. Feedback put community at the heart of what is needed, with suggestions ranging from energy and growing initiatives to more opportunities for children’s play and stronger neighbourhood connection. Attendees were also able to give their reactions on video, filmed by Mark Percival and his wife, Dorothy.
One of the aims of the NEB is to encourage local MPs to sign a pledge calling on the Government for a televised National Emergency Briefing so that ‘everyone, everywhere’ can see and understand the evidence clearly.
St Albans MP Daisy Cooper, who attended the screening, said that she has already signed the pledge and will now actively engage all her Parliamentary colleagues to do the same.
A dozen local groups involved in climate, environmental and community resilience projects hosted information stalls for people to learn more and get involved. They included
Greenpeace St Albans, St Albans Green Christians, The Green House and Sopwell Emergency Planning Partnership.
Ed Jarvis, from the SAFER campaign of the Climate Majority project said: “We wanted people from across the community, including local representatives, to be part of the same conversation about what this means for St Albans.”
Juliet Voisey, one of the organisers added: “There was strong interest in ensuring the discussion does not stop after one event but leads to continued local engagement.”
More than 200 people said they would be interested in attending a follow-up event to explore local ideas and action, underlining the strong appetite for ongoing community involvement.
A local Facebook page has been created to advertise future local screenings and provide updates on the project: Stalbanspeb
