Local lobby

Get involved in the Big Climate Reconnection this spring!

People across England will be lobbying their MPs again this spring, in follow up to November’s Big Climate Connection. With your help we can ensure the UK makes good on its promises to reduce carbon emissions and address the unresolved issue of Climate Finance. It’s imperative that there is a commitment from the developed world to reduce its impact on the world’s poorest.

With the Energy Bill being debated this spring, and plenty to follow up on after the Cancun climate talks, we have a real opportunity to get the UK to clean up its act.

We need you to join in! Could you organise (or attend) a public meeting in your area, or lobby your MP?

Public meetings are already organised in West Dorset, Manchester Withington, Warwick and Leamington and more than 20 other areas, have a look to see if there's one near you. 

If not, why not organise your own public meeting or lobby with your MP? Check out our interactive map to find out what's going on in your area and sign up to get involved

For more information go to www.thebigconnection.org

Top tips for your Reconnection

Confirm your date
Get in touch with your MP to arrange a time and date to meet in your constituency. If you have not got round to doing this yet, it’s not too late!

We’ve written a bit of text you can copy and paste into an email. Please do get in touch if you need any help!

If you have already written, please don't forget to get back in touch with them to confirm the date!

Write to the paper
Once the date is confirmed, it's time to find some people to accompany you. You might  want to invite people from your church or another local group along. You may also want to be featured in your local paper, if so, here's some text to use in a bulletin and a press release that could help. You could always write a letter to the local paper instead.

Watch out for the detailed discussion paper
Stop Climate Chaos have been in touch to say that they will send specific points for discussion as soon as they can, but late enough to have as much current information in them as possible. If you have not heard from Stop Climate Chaos, let me know and I can make sure you have all this information.

Start to plan what you’d like to say
There is a script that they recommend using, and it is here as it stands. They also suggest that you might like to use a prop to help make the photo of the lobby look more interesting. Stop Climate Chaos are suggesting a paper chain of folded paper cut into the shape of figures – something to think about.

Research a local angle
MPs are keen to find common cause with constituents. If you can, try and find something local to talk about. Maybe there’s a project which is worth mentioning (insulating the houses of the elderly, or raising awareness in local schools). You’ll need to make sure all the people with you are from the right constituency, don’t forget, and the same goes for your local story!

Use a Progressio case study
You might find it useful to have someone tell you their story to add some human interest and context. We’ve got a story here of Betty Mkusa, a small-scale farmer in Malawi. We’ve also got a photo you can print out in a large format and take with you here. It's 1.2mb.

Do ring if you need some help – 0207 2888 617.