May 20, 2026
The Senedd election in 2026 was crucial for the progress of climate and nature action, as well as many other vital, connected issues, in Wales.
With a new electoral system, and many new members expected in the Senedd, our Hope for the Future team through their partnership with Climate Cymru, set out to support Welsh constituents for effective political engagement throughout and beyond the electoral cycle.
During election periods, engaging with local politicians is incredibly powerful and so at the beginning of 2026, we developed and delivered a comprehensive series of pre-election training sessions. These workshops aimed to:
We believe one of the best ways to make a difference during elections is to host or attend a hustings on themes that matter to constituents.
With the Senedd elections in May 2026, there was a powerful opportunity for communities to organise political hustings to engage with candidates and hear their views on important local and national issues - on climate and nature, and beyond.
The training sessions were complemented by our Hustings Training Toolkit, a practical resource supporting organisers through every stage of running an effective climate and nature hustings — from securing a venue and inviting candidates, to promoting the event, chairing discussions well, developing impactful questions, and maximising post-event impact. The resource has already been accessed more than 300 times and has supported the development of hustings held across Wales in the run up to the elections.
Alongside training and resources, Hope for the Future and Climate Cymru also provided direct practical support to a number of organisers throughout the process. Together, this work helped deliver 14 hustings involving candidates across 12 of the 16 new Senedd constituencies.
Held across Wales and organised by brilliant local organisations, these events demonstrated participatory democracy at its best. Hundreds of local people met candidates from across the political spectrum and put the questions that mattered most directly to those seeking to represent them in the new Senedd.
Each hustings took on its own unique format. Some included citizens’ assemblies beforehand to co-create questions, while others invited audience members to speak directly, submit questions online, or even draw questions from a hat. Despite their differences, they all shared the same spirit: open, inclusive conversations rooted in the voices and priorities of local communities.
Hope for the Future staff were fortunate enough to attend several of these hustings, joining attendees in Swansea, Cardiff, and Bangor. In Swansea, at a hustings organised by City of Sanctuary, there was a fantastic atmosphere, with a packed room of local people and a wide range of questions put to candidates — from climate and nature to asylum policy, local services, transport, and more. One candidate said of the Swansea hustings:
“I enjoyed myself thoroughly … it exposes all the candidates and the supporters of the parties to different views, so that they actually think to themselves, actually, there's more that unites us than divides us.”
Another reflected:
“I think it's right that people ask really pertinent questions that get to the heart … we can all sit there and say we think that climate’s important, or we think that inclusion is important, but what does that actually mean? What would we do in practice to make our passion for an issue actually come to something?”
While hustings are a vital part of democratic engagement, the next challenge is turning the energy and commitments expressed during the campaign into real, tangible action from those elected. That is why, as the Senedd elections conclude, we are moving into the next phase of this mobilisation project.
For Earth Day (April 2026), Hope for the Future joined dozens of campaigners, organisations, and activists at the Senedd in Cardiff for a fantastic event highlighting the intersection between climate and nature action. The day brought together inspiring stories from people tackling these crises in Wales and around the world, showcasing solutions rooted in local communities and sending a clear message to elected representatives: after the May elections, ambitious and joined-up action is urgently needed.
Following presentations on the steps of the Senedd, Hope for the Future delivered an interactive workshop exploring the cornerstones of our political advocacy approach. Attendees collaborated on ideas for engaging representatives across the political spectrum once the election dust settles, sharing practical ways communities can continue building momentum for climate and nature action.
Our involvement on Earth Day forms part of a wider year-long partnership with Climate Cymru through their Cymru, Together programme. The project is designed to help Welsh constituents feel confident, inspired, and prepared to engage in political advocacy during this crucial election year.
Over the coming months, Hope for the Future and Climate Cymru will provide further training and support for people wanting to engage with their new Members of the Senedd during the crucial first 100 days of the new parliament. Building on the momentum created before the election, this next stage aims to ensure climate and nature remain priorities across both government and opposition.
The enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment shown by communities across Wales over recent months has been a powerful reminder that democracy works best when people feel empowered to take part. From packed community halls to thoughtful conversations between candidates and constituents, these events have laid strong foundations for continued climate and nature advocacy in the years ahead, and we are looking forward to supporting this over the coming months!
