Climate Thoughts with Brian

Credit Sophia Chen

Chris Packham: ‘You must listen to the science. Because if you don’t, then things go wrong and lives are lost.’

A dynamic and purposeful viewing of the National Emergency Briefing took place in York yesterday to a packed Tempest Anderson Hall. Over 850 screenings have now taken place around the country, from church halls, to community centres to festival pop-up screenings with the aim of promoting public awareness of the extent of the climate crisis and an appropriate response. All that remains is for the Government to respond to the public pressure and make a televised National Emergency Climate Briefing to the public in a prime-time slot.  Barely 100 MPs and members of the devolved assemblies have openly signed for such a televised event and as viewings around the country grow, the hope surely is that the inevitable will follow.

York Climate Connect organised this latest climate viewing, followed by a productive discussion of how people responded to the viewing. Various panellists attended ranging from the political, educational and community spheres. It was particularly notable that Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central made a point of attending, as decision- makers and policy makers need to be fully informed of issues and crises which will impact their constituents. Sadly, only about a third of MPs attended last year’s successful National Climate Briefing in Westminster Hall.

Rachael Maskell commented, “As we face a growing national emergency, it is important that we are all aware of the risks facing us, which is why the National Emergency Briefing initiative is so important. The positive focus of the briefing helps us all to look forwards and understand that the efforts we make now can help our future. During my time as an MP, I have consistently championed work on the environment and the future of our planet and will continue in this endeavour to improve the future for all in York Central.”

Credit Sophia Chen

A ‘compelling case’ for climate action

Professor of International Politics and Climate Change at the University of Leeds, Jan Selby, was also a panellist at yesterday’s event and commented, “The briefing makes a really compelling case for why we need to accelerate action on climate and nature now, before it’s too late. Watch it! And then act!”

Leading environmentalist Chris Packham openly called for more awareness to continue to break through with the public. “I’d encourage people everywhere to attend a screening. It creates exactly the kind of honest local conversation we now urgently need, both about what these changes mean where we live, and about what we can do together to address them.”

 In comments last year to parliamentarians, he added, ‘We must be able to know what is really going on, and none more so than many of you. Those that we have elected to represent us, to guide us, to protect our future. You must listen to the science. Because if you don’t, then things go wrong and lives are lost.’

‘The public deserves the truth’

Rosie Toothill, from Parents for Future, voiced her concerns as a parent for the state of the planet Earth for her children. “As a parent of 2 young boys the reality of the climate crisis really scares me, which is why I am a member of Parents for Future, and why I believe the National Emergency Briefing is such an important campaign. I really believe the public deserves, and must know, the truth of what we face within years, if we do not tackle the climate emergency, and demand stronger action from our leaders. But also more importantly that the public and local community within York know there is so much that can be done, especially when we act as a collective.”

Over 200 York residents and visitors made a point of giving up their free time on a Saturday afternoon to be more proactive in the fight against the climate disinformation which seems to deluge social media sites. Climate disinformation which is then spread by populist politicians, simply intent on continued support from fossil fuel companies and interests.

The calls for a national televised event are growing and politicians who wish to be leaders and not followers, will surely amplify these calls, until what seemed like an impossible task- to have a televised emergency briefing- becomes inevitable.