General Election 2024: How to check how your MP votes on environmental issues?

Yesterday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the General Election 2024 will occur on July 4th.

As he announced his decision in the pouring rain on a very wet May day, it was a stark reminder that climate and environmental policy could and will play a significant role in many people’s voting decisions this summer.

It’s not our role to tell you how and who to vote for. However, with only six weeks to go to the election, we will be bombarded with many views, opinions, and information on the General Election, or Genny Lec, as it is being called on social media and finding out where your MP or potential candidates stand on issues like renewables, the climate and the environment will be important. We certainly want to know what the future holds for renewable technology in the UK, and you might want to know that, too.

While we live in an age where it has never been easier to get information, we also live in an age where it has never been easier to get misinformation. 2024 will see more than half the world go to voting booths as more than 60 countries across the globe, including the UK, US, India, Mexico and the EU, all have elections. With the potential for so much ‘fake news’ and the rapid growth of AI and its ability to generate very plausible imagery – it is certain that many people risk being fooled or duped by things they see online.

But don’t despair. There are resources out there to help you get a clearer picture of what your electoral candidates think on issues, including renewables, and to see how your local MP has voted on things like climate and environmental policy.

In this blog, we’ll describe a few ways to ensure you are best informed about the election in six weeks. With the UEFA Euros 2024 taking place at the same time as the election, it could be easier to be distracted, so we hope this helps.

The UK’s Climate Commitments

In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to pass climate action laws to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Fast-forward to 2024, and environmental and energy-related issues have never been more pressing in people’s minds. The Energy Price Crisis played a huge role in this, and more recently, the unfolding crisis around the state of UK water and the dumping of sewage means that people remain genuinely concerned about politicians’ attitudes to the environment both on a local and global scale.

Finding out how your MP has voted

Examining your current MP’s voting history on climate and environmental policies is a great place to begin. This can give you a clear idea of where they stand and how committed they are to tackling the climate and energy issues. You will then have a good idea if your constituency already has the right person for the job or if it’s time for a change.

Many great resources are out there to help you find this information.

Howgreenisyourmp.co.uk is a website created by the UK Youth Climate Coalition that scores MPs based on their climate voting record. Each MP is given a traffic light score, making it easy to see at a glance how they measure up on climate action.

Voteclimate.uk is another resource that scores and provides information on candidates. It aims to tell you the strongest vote for the climate in your seat.

They Work For You is a site that provides a detailed overview of your MP’s voting habits across various policies, from environmental issues to education and human rights. It’s a comprehensive way to understand your MP’s stance on the issues that matter to you.

You can contact your MP

Remember, your MP represents you in Parliament, whether you voted for them or not. Writing to them about your concerns and priorities is a powerful way to make your voice heard.

The website Write to Them makes contacting your MP and other political representatives easy. It even offers tips on how to craft your message to ensure it gets read and responded to.

Keep an Eye on Local Government

We’ve just had the local elections. Many local councils have declared climate emergencies and set their own targets for reducing carbon emissions. Checking out your local council websites is a great way to understand better what’s going on in your area and how your future MP may interact.

How to Learn About Other Candidates’ Policies

Finding information on your current MP is perhaps easier than finding information on the potential MPs for your area. Traditional pamphlets will drop through your letter box in the next few weeks, and it can be easier to throw them away with the four hundredth Dominos Menu you have received. Still, they are good sources of information for getting to know and understand the potential candidates for your area.

Most candidates these days will have websites and social media profiles where they outline their platforms and key issues. Take some time to visit these resources to understand their stance on climate action and other important topics. Additionally, many candidates hold drop-in clinics or town hall meetings, providing a great opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions directly. Attending these events can give you a clearer picture of their commitments and plans for the future, helping you make an informed decision when you head to the polls.

Make sure you are registered to Vote

Researching your vote only matters if you can vote. Ensure you have registered to vote at the UK.GOV Register to Vote Website.

By staying informed about your MP’s voting record and engaging with national and local government, you can play a crucial role in driving action on renewable energy and the climate.

Happy voting, and here’s to a more sustainable future; that’s our vision at Green Building Renewables and one we believe can make a real difference for all of us.