Firefighters in Nethy Bridge – the community centre was used as the incident control point by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to deal with the Cairngorm wildfire. Picture: Callum Mackay.
A free public screening of a thought-provoking film on the impact of climate change – The People’s Emergency Briefing – will take place at Nethy Bridge tomorrow evening.
The event is being held in Abernethy Parish Church at 7pm and will be followed by a facilitated community discussion.
Organisers have said the screening forms part of a growing UK-wide programme of events to help communities take action on global warming.
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They said this is designed ‘to help ensure that both the public and decision-makers are clearly and honestly informed about the climate and nature crisis – and what it may mean for communities across the country’.
More than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media gathered at Westminster Central Hall for the National Emergency Briefing in November, last year.
The landmark event brought together leading experts to assess the UK’s exposure to climate and nature risks.
The briefing, introduced by Chris Packham CBE, set out the implications of climate and nature breakdown for food security, public health, infrastructure, the economy and national security, alongside evidence-based actions that could reduce these risks.
This national event has now been adapted into a 50-minute public film, The People’s Emergency Briefing, which launched nationwide on April 7 and is now being screened in communities across the UK.
The film brings together leading scientists to present a clear picture of the challenges ahead, while creating space for local communities to consider what these issues may mean in their local area, and how they can support their MP to call for stronger action.
Chris Packham is one of the driving forces behind the screenings.
Chris Packham said: “I’d encourage people everywhere to attend a screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing.
“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.”
Following the film, attendees will be invited to take part in a structured discussion.
This is designed to support open, constructive conversation about the issues raised and what they may mean locally.
Organisers emphasise that the event is intended as a ‘civic space bringing together residents, community leaders and decision-makers’.
Local MPs, councillors and other influential people have been invited to attend.
Smoke can be seem rising from the hills – taken from the Nethy Bridge to Tomintoul road. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
Julie McIlwaine, one of the event organisers, said: “This is about creating space for people to come together, look at the evidence, and begin a more open and informed conversation about what climate and nature breakdown means for us.
“It also looks at how we can support the bolder action now called for by the science which will also do so much to improve lives, as the film explains’
“With screenings taking place nationwide, local events form part of a broader effort to build a shared understanding of climate and nature risks across the UK, and to support constructive public dialogue about future choices.”
Tickets for the Nethy Bridge screening are free but advance registration is encouraged.
For tickets click on this link here and more information on the film is also available here.
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