We’ve invited our MP to meet – here’s why it matters

This month sees a national Mass Lobby where local people across the country – including in Lewes – will ask to meet with their MP to urge them to take real action on the climate and nature crisis. Claire Duc of Greenpeace Lewes explains why continuous lobbying of our politicians is now key.

Following on from the biggest London-based mass lobby on 9 July, we’re now turning our focus locally. This October, we’re meeting our MP again as part of a continuing national Mass Lobby – a season of community-led climate action where people across the UK speak directly to their political representatives.

Here in Lewes we’ll be holding a meeting with James MacCleary MP in late October to show him just how much people in our area care about climate and nature. For me, this isn’t just about policy, it’s personal. We are affected by flooding in Lewes, and will be again, all due to climate change.

We want to talk to our MP not as experts or lobbyists, but as neighbours, parents, nurses, teachers, small business owners, faith leaders, students – people who love this community and want to protect it. We’re asking them to listen to our concerns, to back stronger and fairer climate policies, and to show leadership in Parliament.

One way they can do that is by signing the Make Polluters Pay pledge – a simple but powerful commitment to support taxes and levies on the fossil fuel companies responsible for the climate crisis. Oil and gas giants have knowingly pushed us to the brink of climate breakdown while making staggering profits. Millions are paying the price for climate damage, both here and abroad and it’s only fair that the companies causing this damage start footing the bill.

This moment matters because it’s about more than just one meeting. It’s about a growing movement of people who are done with waiting for action. We need our MP to act for justice, for fairness, and for urgent action both here in the UK and internationally.

I hope our MP listens. I hope he chooses to stand with us. Because when it comes to climate and nature, the cost of inaction is too high, and the power of people is too strong to ignore.

Learn more about the ‘Act Now, Change Forever’ mass lobby campaign here.