As part of Scotland’s Climate Week, we hosted a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing at One Dalkeith on 29 September, followed by a community discussion about what the climate and nature emergency means for us here in Midlothian.
The film draws on the National Emergency Briefing, bringing together expertise from climate science, health, food security, economics, national security and the natural environment. We also wanted to give people time afterwards to process what they had heard, share different perspectives and think about what it might mean for our own communities.
For us, the conversation afterwards was probably the most encouraging part of the evening.
The film contains some challenging information, but what really struck us was how quickly the conversation moved towards what we can actually do. People talked about the links between climate change and issues we are already dealing with in Midlothian, including the cost of living, food security, health and wellbeing, housing, inequality and how resilient our communities are.
There was also a strong reminder that our communities are already part of the solution. Community gardens, development trusts, community projects and local networks are already doing great work across Midlothian. Rather than always needing to start something new, there was a real sense that we should support and build on what is already happening.
People left with different ideas about what they might do next, from volunteering and supporting local projects to organising more screenings or simply having more conversations with friends, family and people in their communities. One comment from the evening seemed to sum it up particularly well: “everyone should see this.”
One thing we came away thinking was that the discussion mattered just as much as the film. Climate change and nature loss can feel enormous when we think about them as global problems. Sitting together and talking about what they mean for the places where we actually live makes it much easier to think about where we fit in.
We definitely didn’t leave with all the answers. But we did come away encouraged by how much is already happening across Midlothian, and by how many people wanted to keep the conversation going.
Keep the conversation going
If you watched the film and thought “people in my community should see this too”, why not host your own screening?
It can be shown in a community group, workplace, church, school or local organisation, and the People’s Emergency Briefing team provides resources and support for people who want to host the film.
It’s also just one way to get involved. You might want to volunteer with a local project, support something already happening in your community, contact an elected representative, or simply carry on the conversation with friends, family or colleagues.
And if you’re interested in hosting a screening yourself, come and have a chat with us at Midlothian Climate Action Hub. We’ve been through the process now and would be very happy to share our experience, talk about what worked for us and help you think about how it could work in your own community.
