April 23, 2025
Why Local Elections Matter for Climate and Nature – And Why Engagement Counts
This May, millions of people across England will be heading to the polls for local elections. Voters will elect councillors in 24 local authorities, representatives in more than 1,200 parish councils, and mayors in four combined authorities - including, for the first time ever, the Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, and the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.
Local elections might not get the same buzz as general elections but they’re absolutely critical when it comes to shaping climate and nature policies that are close to home and affect people’s everyday lives across the UK.
Often, local councils are where real climate and nature action happens and can be tangibly felt. Whether it’s decisions about public transport, housing development, flood prevention, parks and green spaces, recycling, or clean energy infrastructure, councils and mayors are making the calls that shape your local environment, all of which influence national progress. That’s why it’s essential we have councillors and mayors who understand the urgency of the climate and nature crises, and are ready to act on it.
Here’s why your vote, your voice, and your engagement really matter - and how you can make them count.
Cast a Vote That Counts for Climate and Nature
If there’s an election in your area on 1st May (you can double-check here), showing up to vote is one of the most powerful things you can do for the planet.
When you vote for a candidate who prioritises the environment, you're not just supporting them and raising their chances of governing locally, you’re sending a message to all parties that climate and nature issues are important to people and win votes.
Get to Know Who’s Running
Unlike general elections, local candidates often don’t have big campaign budgets or media coverage, so it can be harder to get a clear picture of where they stand, but with a bit of digging, you can still find out who’s serious about climate and nature.
A great starting point is Who Can I Vote For, a site that gathers info like candidate bios, pledges, and social media links. If your candidate’s page is still empty, check back closer to election day, as data is often added by volunteers and politicians as their campaigns progress.
You can also look out for:
Finding out what you can about candidates, particularly front-runners, will help you to make more informed decisions on who to vote for based on their policy plans, and by knowing their commitments, you can hold the eventual winner to account.
Don’t Just Read - Reach Out
Want to really understand what your local candidates stand for? Ask them! Many will be out and about in the coming weeks, knocking on doors and attending community events. If you get the chance, don’t be shy - ask them where they stand on climate and nature issues, and share your own concerns.
If no one comes knocking, try sending a message on social media or dropping them an email. Even a quick question can put climate and nature issues on their radar. They might not always reply, but your outreach adds to the momentum.
After the Votes Are Counted, Keep the Pressure On
Even when we take part in the democratic process, we can’t all get the councillors, mayors, and overall council controls we hope for - such is the nature of democracy! But no matter who wins, your role doesn’t end when the ballots are counted. Whether or not your preferred candidate gets elected, you can and should keep pushing for strong environmental action.
It isn’t that our politicians don’t want to do more for climate and nature, or that it isn't a priority, sometimes they just need the ideas and motivation to actually do it! Inputting into a local politician's work and decisions, both as a candidate and once elected, is truly impactful. According to a councillor that we have worked with at Hope for the Future said:
“What we need is action … action comes from people coming together in small groups, or coming in with ideas and saying, can we do this? How do we do this? Can you help us do this? As councillors, it's great if we get that kind of community involvement.”
Ready To Get Involved? We’re Here to Help
At Hope for the Future, the belief that we can motivate local politicians to take bolder action for climate and nature by fostering positive constituent-politician relationships is fundamental to what we do. We want all voices concerned about the climate and nature crises to be heard by our politicians, especially those that are currently underrepresented in the conversation.
Our work with partners across the UK is key to this - and to making sure that communities are being listened to by the politicians who represent them, from supporting citizens assemblies in Cumbria, to parents and children in Yorkshire, to passionate conservationists in Wales.
If you want to know more about pushing your politicians to do more for our planet, and making your voice heard, whether it’s before or after the 2025 local elections, we would love to support you.
We are running tailored training on 23rd and 24th April, which will explore how to have impactful conversations with candidates, effectively engage newly elected politicians, understand local council structures, and use Hope for the Future’s proven approach to influence climate and nature action. You can find out more here and attend one of our upcoming open trainings, each of which dives into a specific element of our relationship-based approach.
You can also reach out to our team at any time to have a one-on-one chat and discuss how we can offer you tailored support. Reach out to us here.
Local elections may seem small, but they carry immense power - especially when it comes to our home planet’s future. Let’s show up, speak up, and make sure climate and nature have a strong voice at every level of local government.
