Article

Lobbying the New Government

23 July 2024
Palace of Westminster

On Thursday 4 July 2024 Labour won a general election with a large majority and formed a new UK government.  Now that a new parliamentary session has begun, there are many opportunities for us as citizens and organisations to be actively engaged in politics and with the new government.

Here are some suggestions as to how you could engage with the government and your MP to speak up for the climate crisis and make your voice heard:

Develop a relationship with your MP

Out of the 650 Members of Parliament (MP) that were elected to Parliament, there were a record 335 new MPs. New MPs in particular will be keen to engage with their local constituency and the weeks and months following the election is a good opportunity to make contact with them. There are all sorts of ways you can contact your MP such as writing to them via letter or email, signing petitions and also meeting them in person – many MPs run ‘surgeries’ or hold public meetings from time to time. 

It is helpful to try and understand how your MP chooses to run their office and interact with their constituents so you can engage with them most effectively. You can use these opportunities to ensure the climate is high on their agenda.

Organise a ‘Meet your MP’ coffee morning or event at your local church

Churches are often at the heart of community life and your church can play an important role in helping develop the relationship between your local MP and the community. 

Why not consider hosting a ‘Meet your MP’ event – perhaps a coffee morning or early in the evening –  maybe try different days and different times to ensure it is accessible for the whole community. 

It’s a great way to meet your MP and introduce them to your church community and it is also a good opportunity for the church to be engaged with the community and invite people to church who might not otherwise come along. 

Christian Aid have published a resource called Breaking Bread to help you think about hosting newly elected MPs in your church.

Support the Climate and Nature Bill

The Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill commits the Government to doing the UK’s fair share to limit global heating to 1.5°C and preserving our ecological landscape. Support for this science-based and truth-telling legislation will demonstrate public and political support for urgent action.

The Climate and Nature Bill would:

  1. Provide a clear, joined-up plan that addresses both climate and nature – something which is necessary as both crises are deeply intertwined. 
  2. Reduce UK emissions in line with the Paris Agreement, ensuring that UK emissions are reduced rapidly for the best chance of limiting warming to 1.5°C.
  3. Halt and reverse the decline in nature, setting nature measurably on the path to recovery by 2030, as agreed at COP15.
  4. Ensure that the UK takes responsibility for our overseas footprint—both emissions and ecological.
  5. Involve the public—giving people a say in finding a fair way forward through a ‘climate and nature assembly’.

All the information and resources you need to find out about the Bill and join the campaign are on the excellent Zero Hour website https://www.zerohour.uk.

Other campaigns you can support

Supporting the Zero Hour campaign for the Climate and Nature Bill is something we have been extremely supportive of at Operation Noah because the bill is the only proposed legislation before the UK Parliament that ensures a comprehensive and joined-up approach to the climate and nature crises. There are other campaigns that we also think are worth reading about and getting involved with:

Search
We email a monthly newsletter to our supporters that includes environmental news, campaign opportunities and ways for churches to engage with the climate and nature crises.
Complete the form below to sign-up



By subscribing you confirm that you are happy to receive news and updates about our work and, in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy, are aged 18 years old or above. We promise never to share your details with any other organisation for marketing purposes. You can unsubscribe at any time.