For our July meeting, we return to our Humanist Climate Action strand: In November 2025, more than 1,200 MPs, peers and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and media gathered at Westminster Central Hall for a landmark National Emergency Briefing delivered by leading UK experts. The event opened with broadcaster Chris Packham, who called for clear public understanding of the risks facing the UK.  Experts addressed the implications of climate and nature breakdown for food security, health, national security, infrastructure and the economy, alongside practical evidence on how risks can still be reduced.

Building from this event, a 45-minute film, The People’s Emergency Briefing was released in April this year, again hosted by Chris Packham featuring insights from nine leading UK experts in climate science, economics, national security, and food safety. Rather than streaming online, this initiative relies on in-person, community-led screenings which are followed by a guided group discussion. It aims to create honest local conversations that we urgently need, both about what these changes mean where we live, and about what we can do together to address them.

After the film, our discussion will be led by Jim Smith, on how we respond as humanists, the local impacts in Oxfordshire and how we can prepare as individuals and communities. Jim is a Humanist based in Banbury and regularly attends our meetings in Oxford, along with his adorable dog, Smithy.  He is involved in several local voluntary community groups as well as national Climate and Nature activism.  From litter picking, community gardens, flood warden, and pot-hole monitoring to stewarding marches and protests across the country, Jim works to bring communities together to achieve change and improve resilience.

About Oxford Humanists: The Oxford Humanists Local Group aims to bring non-religious people together to be happier, more fulfilled and to act as a force for good in our community. We have a growing social group and are keen to build upon this and support a full programme of social and educational events over the coming year. If you're keen on learning more about humanism, seeking to contact a celebrant or school speaker, interested in volunteering with the local group, or simply wish to socialise with like-minded people, we would love to see you at this or any of our future events. Please join our mailing list and see upcoming events listed here. 

If you have any questions about the event, please get in touch with our Events Lead; we'd love to hear from you at events-oxford@humanistbranches.uk 

More about the venue: The North Oxford Community Centre Annexe will be open at 19:15 on the night. There is parking close by at Summertown Car Park or Ferry Car Park, and is well served by buses running along the Banbury Road.