Local action groups, youth activists and supporters from across the Friends of the Earth network joined thousands of others at a mass lobby on 9 July, calling on MPs to back a bold and fair climate plan.

19 Jul 2025

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One of the biggest climate and nature lobbies in UK history

Over 35 Friends of the Earth local action groups, youth activists and supporters travelled from towns and cities across the country to Westminster on 9 July. They joined more than 5,000 people from across The Climate Coalition – including groups like the Women’s Institute, RSPB, WaterAid and the Salvation Army – for one of the UK's biggest ever climate and nature lobbies.

Being here today with thousands of people is really good for me... [it] helps me to feel more optimistic and more ready to keep going.

Market Drayton Climate Action group member

Together, they delivered a powerful message to politicians, meeting with around 200 MPs, urging them to act on the climate and nature crises now.  Friends of the Earth supporters and campaigners asked their MPs to back a bold and fair Big Climate Plan, setting out the path to meet our climate target, while improving lives across the country.

A large group of people outside of Westminster coming together for a photo to demand climate action

We're calling for a Big Climate Plan from the government that must be comprehensive and ambitious. As well as meeting our climate commitments, crucially it must put fairness at the heart of climate action. We want a climate plan that benefits us all, with no one left behind. 

The Big Climate Plan campaign has 5 demands of the UK government to ensure the next plan delivers for people as well as planet:

  1. Keep its promises to cut carbon emissions by developing credible policies, created with experts and the public.
    Invest in our future by fairly funding local, national and international climate action. This includes making rich polluters pay.
  2. Ensure everyone can live in a warm home powered by cheap, clean energy.  
  3. Deliver affordable, reliable public transport and clean air for all.  
  4. Help people find well-paid green jobs by providing investment and training, especially for sectors and places most at risk of being left behind.  
  5. We’ve developed policies that we believe should be included in the government’s climate plan to meet these 5 demands. A new climate plan, as outlined above, would get the UK back on track to meet its climate targets.  

Ambitious, comprehensive and fair climate action would not only cut carbon emissions, but also ensure a greener, fairer and healthier world for all.

Our network shows up

From seasoned campaigners to first-time lobbyists, our network showed up in force. Alongside their MP meetings, groups joined workshops hosted by The Climate Coalition, gathered in Friends of the Earth’s drop-in space to connect with each other and took part in a joyful, united group photo.

A large group of people from different local action groups outside coming together for a photo to demand climate action

Coming here and being able to speak to our MP, somebody who can really make a difference, really gives you a feeling that we’re not powerless. There really are things that we can do.

St. Albans Friends of the Earth member

Our supporters also turned out, from youth climate activists to donors and business partners, all united by the same call: we need a strong, fair climate plan that delivers for people and the planet.

Scroll through some of the day’s highlights below.

 

 

Making headlines, shaping politics

The day got great media coverage, with over 250 articles published across national, international and regional outlets, including The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, BBC and GB News.

A panel of people chatting in a meeting space

And all this attention is already having political impact. The Prime Minister issued a statement of support, and Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP shared a public video message backing the call for urgent action.

It’s really important because the government are in the process of rewriting their climate action plan and the High Court has told them they’ve got to do that because the previous version wasn’t good enough. We’ve got this window of opportunity to make them listen to us and to actually get them to write a decent plan that will be fair for everybody and that will take real action on climate change and not just be a bunch of useless words.

Leicester Friends of the Earth member

What next?

Our conversations with MPs at the mass lobby sent a clear message to MPs that we want to see real commitment to climate action, starting with the government publishing a bold and fair climate plan.

I think it’s very important for me to be here. Being part of Friends of the Earth is very important to me because I know I’m doing something that needs to be done in this day and age where there is the climate crisis, poverty, all the issues that are affecting the world.” 

Birmingham Friends of the Earth member

The government is expected to publish a new climate plan by the end of October. But the plan won’t be bold or fair unless we keep up the pressure.

2 Friends of the Earth staff members at a stall demanding a bold climate plan

Want to get involved with our climate plan campaign? 

Demand a Big Climate Plan

Further reading

2 photos: one of people holding up a campaign banner and one of people outside a court holding banners.
Demand a Big Climate Plan We need a new climate plan that’s bolder and fairer

17 Jul 2025

Over the next few months, as the government prepares to publish a draft climate plan, we’ll be ramping up our efforts to make sure the government delivers a climate plan that slashes emissions and benefits people. Find out how you can get involved.

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