National Emergency Briefing on Climate & Nature: Why It Matters for Health and Wellbeing
Last week, a landmark National Emergency Briefing on the Climate & Nature Crisis brought together the UK’s leading experts to deliver a clear and urgent message: the climate and nature crisis is already impacting the UK, and immediate action is needed.
This invitation-only event, hosted at Westminster Central Hall, was attended by over 850 parliamentarians, peers, business leaders, and cultural, faith, and media representatives. It was part of a major civil society initiative, backed by Vice President Al Gore, aimed at countering misinformation and creating the political conditions for genuine emergency action.
Expert Voices Highlight the Scale of the Challenge
The briefing featured presentations from world-class experts including:
- Prof Kevin Anderson – Climate & Energy
- Prof Rachael Garrett – Nature
- Prof Tim Lenton – Tipping Points
- Prof Hayley Fowler – Extremes & Adaptation
- Prof Hugh Montgomery OBE – Health
- Angela Francis – Economics
- Prof Paul Behrens – Food Security
- Lt General Richard Nugee CB, CVO, CBE – National Security
Chair: Prof Mike Berners-Lee
From rising risks to food and water security, to the health impacts of extreme weather and ecosystem degradation, the experts outlined both the threats and the opportunities to take meaningful action.
Climate, Nature, and Health: The Connection
The briefing made clear that climate and nature crises are not just environmental issues — they are public health emergencies.
- Loss of green spaces, degraded ecosystems, and increasing urban heat are already affecting mental and physical health.
- Exposure to nature is proven to reduce stress, boost immunity, improve cardiovascular health, and enhance mental wellbeing.
- Initiatives such as green and nature-based social prescribing — connecting people to outdoor activities, community gardening, and conservation projects — are powerful tools for prevention and community resilience. Protecting and restoring nature is therefore not only an environmental priority but also a strategic health intervention, supporting healthier, more resilient communities across the UK.
A Positive Vision for Action
The National Emergency Briefing was not just a warning — it also highlighted actionable steps:
- Rapid and equitable reduction of carbon emissions
- Large-scale ecosystem restoration
- Investment in climate-resilient infrastructure
- Integration of nature-based solutions into healthcare and community wellbeing programs
- Cross-party collaboration to implement emergency-level responses The initiative also includes the rollout of a 30-minute broadcast-quality documentary, designed to be shown across the UK in cathedrals, community halls, universities, and local venues — engaging communities and inspiring collective action at a national level.
Why This Matters for WHIS
At the World Health Innovation Summit, we recognize that innovation in health and wellbeing cannot be separated from the environment that sustains us. The evidence is clear: healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, and equitable access to nature are foundational to the future of public health.
We will continue to champion initiatives like this briefing, green social prescribing, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure that climate, nature, and health are at the heart of innovation and policy.
For more information, or to listen to the briefing, visit www.nebriefing.org.