The event brought together students, university leaders and mayoral candidates Martin Tod (Liberal Democrat) and Anna Collar (Green Party), alongside the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charlie Jeffery CBE, to discuss what meaningful leadership looks like in the face of the climate and nature crisis.
The People’s Emergency Briefing is a nationwide public information initiative bringing communities together to hear the latest evidence on the climate and nature crisis and discuss how the UK should respond. The film brings together leading scientists, health professionals and other experts, and is being shown at community and workplace screenings across the UK. It follows the National Emergency Briefing delivered to politicians and other influential figures in Westminster in November 2025.
Following the screening, attendees voiced frustration at what they see as a lack of progress since climate and nature experts delivered the National Emergency Briefing to politicians in Westminster in November 2025. Discussions highlighted concerns around continued fossil fuel expansion, nature loss and the pace of action from institutions with the power to drive change.
Students also challenged their own university to show greater ambition on climate and nature, with calls for stronger biodiversity commitments, fossil fuel divestment and sustainability to be embedded across decision-making. Attendees spoke passionately about the destruction of nature, the need to treat nature as critical infrastructure, and the importance of building an economy that works with, rather than against, the natural world.
The event was held ahead of the Students' Union Sustainability Forum, which aims to support students in organising and campaigning for change both on campus and beyond.
Niamh Tickner, Planning, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said: "It was incredible to see such enthusiasm in the room and the strong leadership from elected student representatives. The climate crisis is not new information for this generation. These are issues students have grown up with. What was inspiring was seeing their determination to organise, campaign and use their influence to drive change.
“Students do not want to be told that it is solely their responsibility to fix the challenges they have inherited. They want to see bolder leadership from institutions and decisionmakers with the power to create system-wide change. It was inspiring to see students recognising the power and influence they have, making their voices heard within their university and beyond, through civic engagement, or at the ballot box in the upcoming mayoral elections."
While the screening left many reflecting on the scale of the challenges ahead, the discussion that followed was marked by optimism and determination. Students spoke about careers that contribute to climate and nature solutions, the power of collective action, and the need for leaders to match the urgency of the crisis with ambitious action.
Krzysztof Mikulski, President of Southampton Students' Union said: "This generation has been burdened with solving the climate crisis, and being able to organise an event where all the most important stakeholders were present was both exciting and nerve-racking. It was so inspirational to hear so many students and members of the public about what more leaders can be doing to tackle the climate crisis. I am proud to be the first Russell Group Students' Union to host the briefing, and I want to encourage other student unions to do the same. The time for action is now!"
Annie Whyman, VP Inclusion at University of Southampton Students' Union adds: "We have grown up with the climate crisis on the back of our minds and it was so powerful to hear these concerns be echoed by fellow students and feel as though the leaders in the room were listening to us.
“The event was described as the best engagement on sustainability to date, so I'm so proud of what we achieved and we want to take what was discussed further than just that room with a student declaration on the climate and nature crisis to inform local leaders of the ambition students want to see from the university, Southampton and the wider Hampshire and Solent region."
As one of the largest student communities in the region, representing around 10% of Southampton's population, students made it clear that they are a powerful civic voice and intend to play a leading role in shaping a more climate- and nature-positive future.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has been helping to bring these conversations to audiences across the region. This event builds on the success of an event that the Trust co-hosted in July attended by more than 100 councillors, business and public sector leaders and environmental organisations from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, prompting lively discussion about putting nature and climate at the heart of future decision-making. This event has inspired communities to take action in their areas, pushing for stronger leadership on climate and nature, as we move through devolution and will see greater powers and funding brought to the region. For more information about devolution, please visit here.
The Trust has attended various other screenings, as the nationwide initiative continues to reach different communities and decision-makers. For more information on the National Emergency Briefing campaign and how the Trust can support, please visit here.
