Paradigm Norton is one of many organisations to host a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing film, a documentary hosted by Chris Packham CBE. Created by the National Emergency Briefing organisation, the film aims to initiate a social tipping point towards genuine emergency action on the climate and nature crisis.
The issues highlighted by the film need to be solved by policy change at the highest level; we believe that the people making decisions need to take this seriously. Although these issues are not for individuals to solve, there are still things we can do to feel empowered by using our voice to call for those in power to create a system that is sustainable by design.
As well as watching the film, here are some positive ways you can take action as an individual or business.
Firstly, take time to reflect and connect with others:
- Understand how climate change can affect your mental health and explore ways to build resilience.
- Connect with others, perhaps at our follow-up discussion on July 16 or other local groups.
- Join other people at regular events organised by Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership such as the ‘Green Mingle’ or Climate Action Breakfast.
As an individual:
1. Learn more – Watch the full expert briefing videos for more detail
2. Engage with local groups – become a member of Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, which brings together organisations to create positive change across climate, nature and social justice. Read about action already taking place in Bristol, or the city you live in, to fight climate change.
3. Write to your MP – you can see if they have joined the Parliamentary Call for a televised briefing of the film.
4. Check your banks behaviour – visit the bank.green website to find out if your bank is funding fossil fuel development. They suggest ways you could take action, including writing to the bank, or considering making a change.
5. Invest your pension responsibly – find out more about this on the ShareAction website and you can talk to our team about our responsible (PNr) and intentional investment (PNi) portfolios.
6. Explore ways to increase your resilience to Climate Change, on the Bristol Climate Hub.
As an organisation:
7. Decarbonise your business – and your supply chain with the help of Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership’s Climate Action Programme which offers free events and resources to organisations of all sizes and sectors. As well as organisations like Bristol City Leap, which is delivering nearly £500 million into low-carbon energy infrastructure in the next five years, you can also work with the Carbon Trust, which supports organisations in implementing net-zero strategies. You can join the SME Climate Hub, which aims to mainstream climate action for small and medium-sized enterprises.
8. Become a B Corp – going on the journey to B Corp certification is one great way to embed environmental and social responsibility into the way your business operates, with regular independent assessment helping to provide accountability for your impact. Based on our experience we think every business should seriously consider it, but are happy to admit we’re biased! You can always chat to us if you have any questions about the process, and you can also contact Business on Purpose.
9. Tackle your supply chain – assess your dependencies on nature, eliminate single-use plastics, prioritise circular economy principles and ensure materials, such as timber or paper, are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
10. Encourage employees to use active travel – check out the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust or mobility/travel hubs in your region.
11. Improve the energy efficiency of your office – switch to a renewable energy supplier and efficiency by improving insulation or installing heat pumps. The Energy Saving Trust is a good resource for this.
As a colleague and friend:
12. Spread the word – talk to your friends, family, colleagues and people in your network – this is a great way to drive awareness and change in the business community.
13. Host a film screening – it’s not difficult and there’s lots of information and support to help you.
We hope you find these links useful. If you’re part of a local group or organisation that we haven’t mentioned, please let us know, and we can add them to this list.
Our screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing film takes place on July 9, and you can book your tickets here.
The NEB initiative is explicitly non-partisan and is supported by a wide range of organisations, including the National Trust, the Church of England, Exeter University, the Royal Meteorological Society, WWF, the National Education Union, and many more. Paradigm Norton does not endorse any specific policy positions; the event is intended to support informed discussion.
The information provided in this article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax or other professional advice. Any references to third-party organisations, initiatives, websites or resources are provided for information only and should not be interpreted as an endorsement by Paradigm Norton. Views and opinions regarding climate and environmental matters may vary. If you are considering making changes to your investments or pension arrangements, you should seek appropriate professional advice before taking any action. The value of investments can fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you invest.