Members of Islington Climate Centre organised the screening of the film National Emergency Briefing

UNLESS we all “unbury our head from the sand”, and begin to take action against the cascading climate crisis, it will be too late.

That is the message of new film National Emergency Briefing (NEB) which is being screened across the country in an effort to escalate climate conversation and mobilise the masses.

Over 1,000 screenings have been arranged nationally, inviting local MPs, councillors and constituents to watch the film and participate in a discussion afterwards.

Last week the Tribune attended a screening at the Union Chapel, organised by the Islington Climate Centre, where hundreds of Islington residents viewed the film and debated its key messages afterwards.

Back in November 2025, climate scientists, doctors and academics addressed around 100 MPs in an emergency briefing on the far-reaching effects of the climate crisis, presenting a set of tangible policy changes and actions that could help to reverse the tide.

The film that is now being screened, presented by Chris Packham, shows members of the public and celebrities viewing and engaging with the briefing in a “Gogglebox-style” format.

Ben Carey, NEB’s creative director who lives in Finsbury Park, told the Tribune: “In many ways, the climate crisis is a communication problem. If everybody was on the same page as to how severe this is, then it wouldn’t be a problem because we would be working collectively to find solutions. But we are not there yet.

Ben Carey

“Everyone has a different take on this film, and we’ve heard lots of different reactions, because it’s a hugely complicated crisis that touches everything. But in a way, that isn’t important. It’s not the aim that everyone agrees with everything. What’s important is everyone is in the room together.

“Facts are great, but facts don’t motivate people. Emotion and feeling and anger and seeing how others behave and react, that is what motivates and mobilises people.”

Brothers Simon and Nick Oldbridge first established the idea for the film, and enlisted the support of Mr Carey from his work with creative campaigning group Utopia Bureau.

Ultimately, Mr Carey said, the NEB would like to see a televised climate-focused “emergency briefing” delivered by the prime minister, similarly to those during the pandemic. All 51 councillors and both of Islington’s MPs were invited to the film’s screenings. Jeremy Corbyn attended a separate screening in the borough and 11 councillors attended the event at the Union Chapel.

Mr Carey added: “The government is aware of the severity of the crisis, but is choosing not to make people fully aware of it for fear of losing votes to Reform. And so I think the film is a very useful means of putting pressure onto them.

“The danger with all of this is that our politicians become too complacent, and so we have been inviting MPs in every constituency to come and watch the film. For me, MPs not bothering to turn up to screenings feels a little complacent.”

Anna Hyde, who runs Islington Climate Centre, said: “Climate change is happening now, not in the future, we could feel it in the heatwave 10 days ago.

“This film gives the facts, explains the risks, and makes the case for faster political action. The science is clear – now our leaders need to act on it faster and harder and to resist the onslaught of misinformation from vested interests who have bought up our media.”

• More information and future screenings can be accessed on the National Emergency Briefing website.