*** You now need photo ID to vote in person in local elections in England and in UK general elections. You can vote by proxy or by post, but both require an online application. The deadline for registering to vote is April 17th. Find out more at jpit.uk/voterid.***
Don’t councils just fix potholes and collect the bins? Why does it matter who is elected? What do they have to do with climate change?
On 4th May, 4862 council wards representing over 8000 seats and a handful of mayoralties across England are up for election (Click here to find out if there’s an election in your area). This is around 70% of all wards in England, meaning there is potential for lots of change in local government across the country.
Local elections are often viewed as a temperature check on how the electorate are feeling about the main parties in Westminster. It can be tempting to transplant issues of national policy onto a local election, voting in accordance with historic loyalty or your current judgement on the national government or opposition.
This is also reflected in the different approaches of political parties: Labour are using it as a trial run for the next general election, the Conservatives are seeking to manage expectations given their 20 point gap in opinion polls, and the Liberal Democrats are targeting Conservative voters frustrated by the rhetoric of MPs in their party.
Given all of this, it may seem odd to focus on local elections and climate change. Climate change is not likely to feature heavily in election campaigning, when councils are focussing on funding and crucial public services in the cost of living crisis. It might also be suggested that focussing on the effects of local government’s response to the climate crisis is insufficient when the latest IPCC report warns of ‘a rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all’. Click here to read the report.
Yet, the local is a key arena for policy in the fight against climate change. The All Party Parliamentary Group on the Green New Deal has argued that practical action that is within reach for councils and communities can be transformative.
The Local Government Association has also shown that councils can have influence over a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in their area. They have real power in important areas like transport, buildings, energy, waste, planning, and public awareness. The cumulative effect of every council taking strong climate action would go a long way to building a greener, fairer country.
It’s also important to note that local climate action can have a number of co-benefits: better access to green spaces, education about nature, improved walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure, and better connections with your neighbours to name a few. We can all benefit from an improved living environment and greater harmony with the world around us.
One of our hopes at JPIT is for a planet where our environment is renewed. We’re also interested in a more relational approach to politics, rooted in our communities and places. Through our Net Zero In My Neighbourhood campaign, we’re encouraging Christians and churches to engage with their local councils’ climate action plans. This brings together an opportunity to build relationships for change in our neighbourhoods, with tangible actions for climate justice.
As the elections approach, here are a few ways you can advocate for climate justice.
I’d like to help but I don’t have much time
Vote. While turnout for the 2019 General Election was 67.3%, for the 2021 local elections it was just 35.9%. If people passionate about climate justice turn out to vote, councils in England could be filled with candidates who stand for climate action.
Take the time to consider your priorities, read the Net Zero in My Neighbourhood resources, find out what the candidates are saying about climate change, pray, and make a plan to vote on May 4th.
*** You now need photo ID to vote in person in local elections in England and in UK general elections. You can vote by proxy or by post, but both require an online application. The deadline for registering to vote is April 17th. Find out more at jpit.uk/voterid.***
I can do more to connect with my councillors
Connect. Councillors provide a bridge between a community and their council, and they usually love the opportunity to connect with people and groups in their wards. Most people only ever contact their councillors when there’s an issue, so positive engagement can leave a memorable impression.
Councillors also want to hear what local residents care about, and it often doesn’t take many people raising an issue to establish it on their radar. Consider the controversy over 15-minute cities, where a vocal minority have raised objections and made councils hesitant. If those in favour of walkable neighbourhoods also spoke up, this could make a difference.
These elections provide a great opportunity to connect with your councillors. Before the elections, could you write to your candidates? Ask them to make a specific commitment to a change you want to see, and hold them to account for any commitments they make. After your councillors are elected, contact your new representatives and invite them to your church. This could be as low-commitment as asking them to attend a service, or getting them to meet and have a conversation with your environmental reps. This is an opportunity to build an ongoing relationship with people in your neighbourhood.
I want to lead the way in seeking net zero in my neighbourhood
Organise. The best way to get stuck in is to sign up to our Net Zero in My Neighbourhood network, a chance to meet with others and get trained up for change.
Why not begin by reading through our resources and building a local coalition to engage with your councillors over the long-run. Working together with a broad range of other groups can demonstrate to your council the real appetite that exists for climate action. Click here to find out if there are groups already meeting in your area.
The elections offer a great opportunity to build positive relationships with a new set of councillors from the outset. Click through to our Net Zero in My Neighbourhood site for all the resources and support you need to advocate for net zero in your neighbourhood today.
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