Caroline Lucas, Green Party leader and the UK’s first Green MP, today urged young people to “adopt” their MPs as part of a campaign organised by the UK Youth Climate Change Coalition (1, 2).
Across the country young people are adopting their MPs to hold them accountable on environmental issues ranging from investment in green jobs to insulating local public buildings. Over 375 young people have linked up with their MPs through the scheme already.
On Monday, Caroline attended Parliament in the Park (3, 4), where she participated in a picnic with young people to discuss local environmental issues.
At the event, she emphasised her endorsement of the scheme: “Although many stories focus on climate change as an international issue, it affects us all, and I would welcome your ideas about what we could be doing in our constituency.”
The Adopt an MP campaign aims to encourage conversations between young people and MPs. Youth across the country have already been contacting their MPs about issues ranging from cycle lanes and recycling to youth-lead community projects.
Young people interested in the campaign can visit www.adoptanmp.org where they can create a profile, connect with other trackers, and contact their MPs.
Jake Leeper, Adopt an MP campaign manager added, “We can’t keep carrying on as we are, with a reliance on fossil fuels and where we are living in an environment that won’t provide us with a safe future. I would encourage everyone to adopt their MP and hold them accountable to secure the green jobs and low-carbon services that we all deserve.”
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