Four tips to engage your elected representative on climate change

Jamie Sims at Hope for the Future writes about how to engage with your local MP or councillor about taking climate action.

The climate and ecological crisis is the defining issue of our time, impacting all areas of life – how we respond to it will shape the state we leave our shared world in for future generations. 

There are many ways to take action. To tackle climate change all different kinds of people, groups, and institutions need to work together and do their part.

Climate Action North embodies an important approach, providing support for practical projects for sustainability and rewilding, with a particular focus on what businesses can do as well as the role of communities and voluntary organisations.

At Hope for the Future, we focus on how ordinary people and their elected representatives can engage with the political system to bring about much-needed policy changes.

This guide gives a quick overview of why and how to talk to your politician or councillor about climate change, and explains how Hope for the Future can help you to do so effectively.

1. Recognise climate change requires a national and global response

Local projects are vitally important, but successfully tackling the climate crisis also requires coordinated action by national governments. This is one of the biggest reasons why engaging with MPs is so crucial.

Decisions by governments across all sorts of policy areas impact the climate and ecological crisis – for instance on housing, transport, and industrial policy. By making the right choices, fossil fuel use can be reduced, natural environments protected, and renewable energy infrastructure rapidly scaled up.

2. You don’t need to be a policy expert or scientist to engage MPs and councillors on climate policy

People sometimes worry about weighing in on climate change, which seems like a big, complex, technical problem.

While, of course, the work of climate scientists and experts is vital, you absolutely don’t need to be one to make your voice heard on climate change.

What elected representatives really want to know is that this is something constituents care deeply about. Our research team can help you with specific ‘asks’ and how to engage on the policy areas that your MP or councillor can influence most effectively.

You can sign up for our Hopeful Herald newsletter for in-depth analysis of the latest developments in UK politics and climate change and opportunities to influence policy in response to  it. Climate change affects us all, and we all deserve a say on it.

3. Don’t be afraid to engage with politicians and parties you disagree with

We have a wealth of experience working with elected representatives and constituents from across the political spectrum. For example, we’ve been holding a series of events in places like Derby, Kensington, and West Bromwich, which were Conservative gains in the 2019 general election. We have worked successfully with MPs across all parties.

With the right approach, any MP or councillor can be engaged and moved to take action on climate change. 

4. Effective communication makes all the difference – and we can help!

We’re all concerned about climate change and it is vital we communicate this to our elected representatives. To have our voices heard, we need to know how to put across the issues in a clear, persuasive way, giving busy politicians clear guidance on what policy proposals and interventions will be most effective.

Our regular training sessions and 1:1 support can help with this.

We offer a monthly free open training session – sign up to the next one here. You can also keep up with our work on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

If we all come together and take action, we can make the difference and transform the UK’s approach to climate change to be as ambitious as it needs to be.

Photo credit: Hope for the Future photographer Jonathan Goldberg.

The time for talking is over. Today we need to act.