📅 Held on Tuesday 30 June 2026— 🕠 08:30–10:00— 📍Nottingham
The latest East Midlands Sustainability Partnership event brought together practitioners from across consultancy, academia and industry for a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing, followed by a facilitated discussion on its implications for the built environment.
This session stepped away from project-specific detail, instead focusing on the wider context in which we are all operating — the scale of the climate and nature crisis, and what it means for how we work, collaborate, and respond.
Reflections from the session
- There was a sense of frustration – many people were aware of the facts but frustrated by a lack of action from local and national government.
- Many felt a sense of legacy – people talked and shared about the need to leave our world better for the next generation.
- There was Hope – technologies exist and places demonstrate best practice, which, we can help to share and roll out across the world to accelerate the shift to a greener planet
- There is community – there are people who care and can encourage one another to continue to share the facts and demonstrate the value of a greener transition. We can’t delay!
Why this conversation matters
Across the sector, there is growing alignment on the need for action. Strategies, targets and frameworks continue to develop — but translating these into meaningful, timely change quickly remains a challenge.
The People’s Emergency Briefing provides a clear and accessible synthesis of the current situation, bringing together expert insight on climate, nature, infrastructure and national resilience.
The message is consistent: the evidence is already clear, and the solutions already exist. The critical question is how quickly and collectively we move.
Events like this provide space to reflect on that challenge — to share perspectives, test assumptions, and consider how to accelerate progress together, particularly at a regional level.
The session
The screening was followed by a structured debrief, creating space for reflection before moving into a wider discussion on application and next steps.
Participants were invited to consider:
- How the briefing made them feel
- What messages stayed with them
- What this means in the context of their own work
Discussion
The conversation then shifted towards practical application — what this means for individuals, organisations and the wider sector.
Key themes included:
- The role of the built environment in climate mitigation and adaptation
- The importance of communicating evidence clearly and consistently
- The need to move beyond awareness into action
- Discussion focused on where effort can be directed to deliver meaningful change, including:
- Energy decarbonisation
- Resilient and future-ready infrastructure
- Safe, healthy and climate-adapted buildings
- Integration of green space and biodiversity
From awareness to action
A central focus of the session was how to translate insight into tangible action. Participants were encouraged to:
- Engage with policymakers and local representatives
- Share the briefing within their professional and community networks
- Support or organise further screenings
- Continue conversations within their organisations
There was particular emphasis on using existing networks — including professional institutions and workplace forums — to extend the reach of the briefing and build momentum.
What next?
As with all EMSP events, the intention is that the conversation continues beyond the session itself. Please engage with our Linked in Group
For a practical response to the film:
Complete the Post-Event Survey
This questionnaire will take about 3-5 mins and will ask about your views on climate and nature, and what you thought of the event. This helps find out about who’s attending and what impact the event has had.
(Postcode: NG1 4FQ)
Ask your MP or devolved assembly representative to join the Parliamentary Call for a televised briefing
See if your MP has signed the Parliamentary Call for a televised
– and then follow the instructions to email them.
Sign the petition
Help secure a parliamentary debate by signing this government petition. There are currently over 29,000 signatures.
Host a Screening
Consider organising your own screening in your workplace, or your community; tell friends and family and encourage them too.
Host a Screening
Consider organising your own screening in your workplace, or your community; tell friends and family and encourage them too.
Spread the word
Keep the conversation going by sharing it with friends, family, or your workplace, and engaging with the National Emergency Briefing on social media.
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