Professor Hayley Fowler is among the experts featured in a new 50-minute film, fronted by Chris Packham, which sets out the facts about how our changing climate and depleted nature is affecting UK life – from rising food prices, to human health, to national security – and what science says can be done about it.

Released on 7 April, The People’s Emergency Briefing film presents the national implications of climate and nature breakdown - along with credible, positive responses - in a single, accessible account designed for screening in communities across the UK.

The film was created by the National Emergency Briefing initiative (NEB) following its high-profile November launch. NEB is supported by organisations such as the National Trust, RSPB, CPRE, several UK universities, including Newcastle University, and the Royal Meteorological Society.

It shows celebrities and members of the public reacting to the expert briefings on issues from rising food prices to human health, to national security – recorded at the National Emergency Briefing event for 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media in November at Westminster Hall.

Action on the climate and nature crises

Hayley Fowler is Professor of Climate Change Impacts in the School of Engineering and a Director of the Centre for Climate and Environmental Resilience, who are hosting a showing of the film at Newcastle University at 3pm on 22 April 2026. Her research advances understanding of changing weather and precipitation extremes, developing high-resolution climate projections to inform adaptation strategies.

She said: “On 27 November 2025, I was one of ten of the UK’s leading experts who briefed an invited audience of more than 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media in Westminster. The briefing set out the implications of climate and nature breakdown for health, food systems, national security and the economy, and did so on the public record.

“The climate and nature crisis threatens all aspects of British life, from national security to the food supply. Solutions exist but we need a rapid, WW2-scale response, and for the government to act now to build the solutions needed. The first step in this, we believe, is to educate the public.

“The People’s Emergency Briefing film is presented by Chris Packham, in gogglebox style. It provides the latest evidence, and hopes to build the public pressure for Government to stage a televised emergency briefing. I am convinced that people need to know the facts. Please go and watch the film and make up your own mind about whether action on the climate and nature crises is needed.”

Chris Packham said: “The government’s own assessments warn of serious threats, but the public still hasn’t been properly briefed. These screenings put the evidence in front of people, together with their MPs, for an honest conversation about what comes next.

“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.”

People’s Emergency Briefing: Screening of Film & Discussion

Date & Time: 3pm – 4.30pm on Wednesday 22^nd April 2026

Venue: Curtis Auditorium, Herschel Building

Please sign up HERE 

Watch the film trailer.

Explore the screening map.

Press release adapted with thanks from National Emergency Briefing