Tell Your Politicians

What

If we are to avoid the worst of climate change, we need our governments to do their part. You can help by letting your politicians know how you feel and pushing them to be part of the solution.

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Why

As individuals and communities we can take steps to significantly reduce our own carbon pollution. But this won’t be enough unless our politicians work with us to create the projects, laws and incentives that will deliver bold and rapid changes we all need.

Although it can feel intimidating to speak to your politicians, many people find it a positive experience that helps them understand local issues, connect with others and feel part of broader efforts in their community.

How

Choose a topic

Begin by deciding on a particular subject you’d like to talk to your politicians about - perhaps one of the other 16 Steps on Count Us In, such as Walk & Cycle More or Drive Electric. It’s good to choose a step that you feel passionate about - and that your local politicians can act on.

Decide on a request

Once you’ve decided on a topic, you need to decide what you are going to ask them to do. Ideally this request should be SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and timely). For example, if you chose Drive Electric, you might want to ask your politician to vote in support of a new piece of legislation, or invest in public charge points for electric cars.

Arrange a conversation

In many areas, local politicians will offer opportunities to meet with them face to face. Although this can feel daunting, it’s one of the most powerful ways to take this step - giving you and your politicians a chance to understand each other’s perspectives first-hand. If this isn’t possible, find out what platforms your politician uses to talk to constituents and send a message to them.

If you want more advice, Hope For the Future have an excellent guide to talking to politicians during Covid19. It’s UK-based but the principles are relevant no matter where you live.