Scarborough Politicians Urged to Take Climate Risks Seriously Ahead of Public Briefing

A newly formed grassroots group is calling on local politicians to take the climate emergency more seriously ahead of a free public briefing in Scarborough this weekend.

Extreme weather events and climate risks require a much stronger response from local politicians, according to a newly formed grassroots group.

Household budgets and local food production face growing threats from climate breakdown, Climate Action Scarborough has warned. The organisers say that unprecedented wildfires on Fylingdales Moor last year highlight the urgent need for action, and they are calling on decision-makers, including MP Alison Hume and local councillors, to engage more actively with the crisis.

Public understanding of these challenges will be the focus of a free screening of a documentary called The People’s Emergency Briefing at the Old Parcels Office Artspace in Scarborough on Saturday, November 7th. The event aims to bring the community together around positive and practical local action.

Kate Evans, one of the event organisers, said:

"The consequences of the Climate Emergency are already being felt in our communities through extreme weather events, increasing costs and growing uncertainty about the future. We need honest conversations and stronger leadership from those elected to represent us, but at the moment, it feels like most of them aren’t taking climate change seriously. This event is an opportunity for residents and decision-makers to come together, hear the evidence and discuss meaningful local action, and we hope that as many people as possible can attend."

The grassroots group was formed following a sold-out screening of the same film at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in August. Members believe a more urgent response is needed to prepare the coastal community for a warmer world.

Jack Hunter from Climate Action Scarborough said the group are worried after recent events:

"They feel as like we need everyone to be almost stepping up to the war footing, right? Not just reducing carbon emissions, but also preparing for a warmer world and making sure that we're all safe. The government are obviously trying, but at the same time, they're also talking about drilling in the North Sea and they're cutting support for insulation and for heat pumps and we don't feel like a national level. It's being taken seriously enough. And we also look locally at the local council and the Scarborough town council and it just doesn't feel like those in power are taking seriously the very real risks of the climate emergency and how it's going to affect people. How it's affecting them now and how it's going to affect them in the next 5, 10, 20 years."

The 50-minute public film being screened on Saturday was launched nationwide in April. It was adapted from the National Emergency Briefing held at Westminster Central Hall in November 2025, where more than 1,200 MPs, peers, and leaders gathered to assess the nation's exposure to climate and nature risks. That landmark event, introduced by Chris Packham CBE, explored the implications for food security, public health, infrastructure, the economy, and national security.

Local independent councillor Rich Maw acknowledged the difficulties in getting all politicians on the same page.

Councillor Rich Maw said:

"The Emergency Briefing is bringing the evidence about climate and ecological change into the public arena in a way that everyone can engage with.

As a councillor, I know how difficult it can be to build understanding and consensus when some elected members remain unconvinced about human-caused climate change. We may disagree about the political response, but we should be able to have an open, evidence-based conversation about the challenges facing our planet and our coastal communities"

Despite concerns over political leadership, a variety of community-led environmental projects are already active across the town.

Jack Hunter added:

"Scarborough is already home to a fantastic variety of community projects that have a climate angle. We've got a lot of community garden projects, which are growing stuff locally. We've got conservation groups who are out planting trees, we've got repair cafe and people reusing stuff. All of this is it's climate action, and it has benefits for everyone. You get out and about maybe, or you manage to get school uniform for cheaper than you get it new. So I think there's already lots of stuff going on in Scarborough and we'd be like encouraging people to get involved. But also we're a group who wants to try and take action. If people want to get involved, we've got a Facebook, we've got an email list, we meet up regularly and we are plotting new projects locally."

The Scarborough screening will run from 4pm to 6pm on Saturday and will be followed by a facilitated discussion to help attendees reflect on the issues and explore practical responses. A further screening is scheduled to take place at the Hunmanby Community Centre on December 12th.