Build support for The Big Climate Plan

We need to make sure that Prime Minister Keir Starmer knows that people from all walks of life want to see strong climate action for a fairer future. Over winter we’re going to collect petition signatures from our community to demonstrate public support for a bold and fair climate plan.  

We’ll aim our petitions at the Prime Minister, who’s responsible for the climate plan being produced in 2025. In spring next year, we’ll meet with our MP(s) to share the petition signatures with them and ask them to send the petition to the Prime Minister on our behalf. By doing this we’ll continue to build relationships with our MPs and grow their support for the campaign. Hearing from hundreds of MPs will help build pressure on the Prime Minister.

Get out into your community

We need as many groups as possible to get out into local communities and collect hundreds of petition signatures. We’ve created some eye-catching petition postcards to help get you started.

Order your petition postcards today

Alongside the petition, we’ll get communities interested by using a simple and fun activity to gather messages of support.

We’ve created a template wall display with different shaped cards, each representing a solution we’re advocating for in the climate plan, such as better public transport, home insulation and renewable energy. Ask members of the public to choose a card and write a message on the back about how people in your area will benefit from a strong and fair climate plan. The different shaped cards may help give ideas about what to write about, for example the difference good bus routes would make or how green jobs would benefit the local economy.

Stick messages onto the wall display, using the Glu Dots provided, so they're visible, allowing people to see and be inspired by each other’s ideas.

This simple activity will help you start a conversation with community members and share more about our campaign. From there you can ask them to sign your petition and join your mailing list. When we present our petitions, these messages will strengthen our impact with MPs alongside the petition.

Order your Big Climate Plan message board today.

We’ve created a short script to help you explain the benefits of a strong climate plan. You can also use our Near You tool to explore local data that highlights the top climate issues in your area. 

Set up an online petition

Alongside collecting petition signatures out in communities, you can also set up an online petition. We recommend using Action Network – a digital platform designed to support local campaigning. You can use our ready-made petition templates, with versions for England and Wales available. If you'd haven’t yet set up an Action Network account set up or need help with the platform,  get in touch.  

We’ve included the same activity for gathering public messages of support for the online petition, where people can submit messages of support when they sign the petition.

Growing your numbers

Petitions are a useful tool to show public support for an issue. They also allow you to grow your mailing list – and ultimately grow your group. In order to collect as many petition signatures as possible you can:

• Set up a stall in your town centre or bring your petition postcards to events such as coffee mornings, winter fairs and other events.  
• Ask partner organisations to share your online petition or gather petition postcards on your behalf.  
• Share your online petition on social media.
• Share the petition with your mailing list (and ask readers to share the petition on too).
• Use our community activity (outlined above) to start the conversation with the next step being to sign the petition.  
• Create a QR code so that people can scan to sign the petition.

Our campaign petition postcards include a tick box to indicate if someone is happy to be contacted by your group. Make sure to take a note of anyone who ticks this box and add them to your mailing list. As more people sign your petition and join your mailing list, it’ll be important to keep them interested and to update your mailing list at regular intervals. Take a look at this guide on keeping your mailing list interested. 

Meeting with your MP

In spring 2025 we’ll arrange meetings with our MPs to talk to them about The Big Climate Plan. This might be the first time you’ve met with your MP about this issue, or it might build on previous meetings. During the meeting you can share messages from the community you’ve collected using the Big Climate Plan message board. You can then hand in the petition signatures you’ve collected and ask your MP to send them on to the Prime Minister on your behalf, alongside a request for a bolder and fairer climate plan.  

We’ll share more guidance on how to prepare your petition to hand it in to your MP soon. In the meantime, you can read this guide on how to speak to your MP about the Big Climate Plan, which includes a link to a briefing you can share with your MP.