South Hams backs National Emergency Briefing and urges UK100 councils to join call for urgent climate action

South Hams District Council has formally backed the National Emergency Briefing initiative, following a major Westminster event that warned of escalating risks to the UK’s health, food supply, national security and economy from climate change.

A National Emergency Briefing was held in November at Westminster Central Hall, bringing together leading independent experts in defence, food security, nature, climate, economics and health. The briefing presented evidence on how climate change is increasing risks to the nation, with organisers aiming to shift the debate away from politics and towards clear, credible information.

The initiative was designed to cut through scepticism and highlight why understanding both the risks and the solutions matters for the public’s safety, prosperity and long-term future.

In the wake of the event, South Hams District Council has now resolved to support the initiative and is calling on other local authorities, particularly those in UK100 - the network of councils committed to climate action - to follow suit.

Cllr John McKay, South Hams Lead Member for Climate Change, said: “Climate and biodiversity is one of the council’s key priorities, and we want to take the lead locally and play our part in the fight to preserve our natural world.

“Part of that is by encouraging our fellow UK100 authorities to get behind an initiative we really believe could make a difference nationally. The event in November brought together leading experts to present evidence on the escalating climate and nature emergency.

“We support the work and message of the National Emergency Briefing, and call on government, politicians, businesses and organisations to heed its call for effective and urgent action.”

The move comes as councils across the UK face increasing pressures linked to climate change, including more frequent extreme weather events, flood risk, damage to infrastructure and growing concerns around food resilience and public health.

Simon Oldridge, co-founder of the National Emergency Briefing, welcomed the council’s decision and said it could help encourage wider engagement among local authorities.

“I’m hugely grateful to South Hams District Council for their support. By encouraging fellow UK100 councils to engage with the National Emergency Briefing, they’re helping to normalise honest, evidence-based leadership on the climate and nature crisis,” he said.

South Hams District Council said it hopes its support will prompt other UK100 councils to engage with the initiative and help build momentum for national action grounded in independent evidence.