MPs for climate action mass lobby

ACTIVISTS, schoolchildren, faith leaders, parents and grandparents were among those who united in Westminster to lobby MPs on climate and nature action.

- REBECCA SPEARE-COLE

Organisers said around 5,000 people from across the UK met their MPs for the mass lobby on Wednesday afternoon, which took place amid the growing spectre of climate-driven weather extremes.

The groups aimed to put pressure on politicians to deliver funding to communities hit hardest by climate change, restore nature to create a safer and healthier future, back UK jobs and secure a greener, fairer future for all.

Ahead of these meetings, a crowd gathered in Parliament Square wearing colourful t-shirts, with some holding up artwork, flags, signs and banners reading: "Together for People", "Make Polluters Pay" and "Worried mother trying to protect my kids and all kids".

One activist arrived dressed as a WWF panda, the campaign group Mothers Rise Up brought a giant melting ice-cream shaped like planet Earth and Surfers Against Sewage carried a surfboard displaying the words: "Ocean + Climate Emergency".

A large group of children could also be seen at the event holding "Act Now, Change Forever" signs.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband shared his support in a video, saying: "I want to thank you all for being in Westminster today to speak to your MP about the climate and nature crisis. You're doing a really important thing."