THE PEOPLE’S EMERGENCY BRIEFING

THE PEOPLE’S EMERGENCY BRIEFING is a national briefing on the risks facing Britain from climate change and nature loss. The film is coming to Hailsham Pavilion on Saturday 14 November at 2.30 (with community discussion) and 7.30pm (screening only). Tickets are £5 plus booking fee from the box office on 01321 841414, in person or via the website at www.hailshampavilion.co.uk.

Local residents and decision-makers are invited to watch the evidence and discuss what it could mean for East Sussex.

The People’s Emergency Briefing is a 50-minute film adapted from the landmark National

Emergency Briefing, held at Westminster Central Hall in last year, attended by over 1200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media.

Introduced by wildlife broadcaster Chris Packham CBE, the original briefing brought together

leading experts to examine the implications of climate change and nature loss for food security,

public health, infrastructure, the economy and national security, as well as evidence-based

actions that could reduce those risks.

Now a public film, it has been screened in over 5000 communities across Britain. For the organisers of the Hailsham screening, the subject has acquired a particularly local resonance.

East Sussex has just experienced an extraordinary summer of drought and heat. Arlington

Reservoir, near Hailsham, has fallen to just 43% full and farmers have faced difficult growing conditions, poor grass growth and pressure on yields.

Serena Schellenberg, one of the Hailsham organisers, said: “One minute we are talking about drought and watching Arlington Reservoir fall to worrying levels, the next we are looking out of the window at pouring rain. That is precisely why we wanted to bring this film to Hailsham. Climate change is not simply about everywhere becoming hotter and drier. It is about understanding how our weather, food, water, nature and economy are connected, and what the evidence tells us about the risks ahead.”

Wendy Taylor from the Quakers Herstmonceux, one of the other organisers said “This isn’t about

telling people what to think. We would really like people to come, see the evidence for themselves and talk about it.”