Researchers have released findings from a study examining public response to the People’s Emergency Briefing, a crowdfunded film addressing climate and ecological threats. The documentary, which emerged from what organizers describe as the first national emergency briefing of its kind held last November, features assessments from nine experts on the scale of adaptation needed in the UK.
The film has reached an estimated 185,000 viewers across more than 3,400 screenings. According to a survey of 13,000 people who watched the material, substantial majorities expressed greater willingness to take action and concern about environmental issues. Among those surveyed, 87% reported increased motivation to act following viewing, and 89% indicated the government should respond to the crisis using emergency-level mobilization comparable to major historical mobilization efforts.
A notable finding involved public awareness gaps. When asked about government transparency, 93% of survey respondents indicated they believed the public was not receiving complete information about climate and nature loss. Researchers noted that while general awareness of climate risks exists, understanding of secondary effects—including impacts on national security, food supplies, and healthcare systems—remains limited among the general population.
The research team, led by Prof Lorraine Whitmarsh from the University of Bath, has called for a government-sponsored televised emergency briefing on climate and nature breakdown, to be delivered by independent experts and led by senior political leadership. Prof Mike Berners-Lee, chair of the National Emergency Briefing, referenced the public’s receptiveness to trusted factual information during other crises as a precedent for this approach. The UK government stated it welcomes campaigns that maintain climate action and nature preservation in public discussion but did not confirm whether it would screen the film.
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