Thousands meet their MPs to show huge demand for climate action | Green politics

On Wednesday, more than 5,000 people from all over the United Kingdom arrived in Westminster to meet their deputies and demand urgent climate action to protect their communities.

The mass hall is one of the largest to date. Voters, including parents and retirees, doctors, teachers, farmers and youth activists, have organized to put pressure on at least 500 deputies, or around 80% of the total.

Before the event, a giant image was projected on the white cliffs of Dover, declaring that “89% of people want climate action”. The Guardian reported in April on the “silent majority” climate – 89% of people around the world want more than it is, but wrongly assume that few people share their point of view.

The mosaic image, with a green heart, was created from 1,500 photos shared by people to illustrate what they want to protect.

The lobby and mass image were organized by the climate Coalition, a network of more than 120 British organizations representing more than 22 million people, including the National Trust, the RSPB and the Women’s Institute. MPs will be invited to secure a green future to reduce energy bills and create jobs, restore nature and help communities reach the most harsh by climate change, in the United Kingdom and in the world.

New survey data shared with the Guardian provide additional proof of the silent majority of the climate, many British supporting zero net goals, but only one in 10 saying that they regularly share their climatic opinions.

Helen Meech, executive director of the climate Coalition, said: “Just through the United Kingdom, people intensify to protect the things they like, pure air and green spaces to secure jobs and hot houses. It is one of the greatest democratic moments for climate and nature in the years and a chance to show that action for our future is not only popular, it is essential. ”

Charlotte Howell, co -director of parents for the future, said: “As parents, our greatest priority is to have our children in safety and healthy, at the moment and in the future. We are clearly indicating to deputies that climate action is not optional, it is essential.”

Tanka Steele, director general of WWF, said: “Today’s mass lobby must be a turning point, for a moment to show our leaders that we, their voters, want to live in a country where people and nature can prosper together.”

The mass hall was supported by dozens of public figures, including the Konnie Huq and Stephen Fry broadcasters, the actors Brian Cox, David Harewood and Bonnie Wright and the writers Ben Okri and Mark Haddon. Okri brought a photo to the image of a favorite tree, shot down by a storm. “The destruction of forests around the world is a silent modern tragedy,” he said.

The mosaic includes a photo of a parks in Antrim who said that nature was his sanctuary, a Southsea academic who said that the seafront had many happy family memories, and a vicar in London in his community garden.

Keir Starmer sent a message to those who put their pressure on their deputies, saying: “The problems you discuss today are at the heart of my commitment to fighting climate change, here in the United Kingdom and in the world.”

He said the government “doubled” on clean energy forces in Great Britain, spending billions to make houses more energy efficient and finance climate adaptation for millions of people worldwide. “Together, these actions reflect our unwavering commitment to climate action, energy security and social justice,” he said.

An investigation by the Climate Barometer revealed that one out of 10 people says that they regularly express their climatic opinions. About two -thirds of the British support the zero 2050 net objective, local solar parks and local reinforcements, but half of these supporters remain silent or silent on climate problems, according to the survey.

Dr. Niall McLoughlin, co -director of the Climate Barometer, said that a cause of this hesitation could be “perception gaps”, where people believe that their opinions on climatic issues are not shared by others. “This is not the case at all,” he said.

For example, only 16% of people thought there would be majority support for new pylons and power lines to transport locally renewable energies, while in reality 60% of the public support it.

“It is now crucial to break this spiral of silence if we want to progress on climate change,” said McLoughlin. “Sharing support for climate action with the people we meet can play a key role in making changes.

The results of the survey published in June in 13 countries representing almost half of the world’s population have found that 77% of people are more willing to support a political candidate who favors polluting tax companies such as oil, gas and coal companies and super-rich, which have enormous footprints.