The National Emergency Briefing (NEB) is the result of leading experts and concerned citizens joining forces to encourage UK decision-makers to step up their response to the escalating climate and nature crises. It is supported by a wide range of well-known organisations, including The National Trust, RSPB, The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and the British Ecological Society.

The briefing was held on 27 November for around 1,250 politicians and leaders from all sectors of society.

The premise of the NEB is that the United Kingdom must urgently prepare for a cascade of serious societal impacts. The rapidly escalating climate and nature crises are set to make the UK increasingly unrecognisable and dangerous, with extreme weather events, the risk of food shortages, price shocks, economic instability and rising geopolitical risks. 

At the same time, the NEB is alarmed by the scale of fossil fuel-funded disinformation that has flooded Westminster and the media. The lack of public access to accurate, science-based information has created a vacuum which has been filled by polarised headlines designed to deny and delay action. 

Under the Communications Act 2003, all public service broadcasters must inform the public on major national and international issues. The UK has so far failed to meet these obligations. The Climate Change Committee has also urged the Government to provide trusted public information.

The NEB has published a letter to Keir Starmer and leaders of public service broadcasters setting out its concerns as above. It invites anyone who shares its concerns to sign and send the letter on line.

Andrew Davey, John Craythorne