ACT NOW, CHANGE FOREVER: A story of connection, courage and collective power

Posted by Helen Meech on January 06, 2026

Helen Meech, Executive Director of The Climate Coalition, reflects on what the Act Now, Change Forever campaign revealed about the power of people coming together for climate, nature and a fairer future.

Campaigners from across the country gather in Westminster as part of the Act Now Change Forever Mass Lobby this year; Photo credit: Richard Dawson/PA

In 2025, thousands of people across the UK stepped forward with a shared purpose: to call for a healthier, fairer, safer future for climate and nature - and to show that when we act together, our voices can help shape our shared future.

Today, we’re publishing the Act Now, Change Forever Impact Report, capturing the stories, scale and learnings from one of the most ambitious mobilisation efforts our movement has undertaken in recent years.

More than 5,000 people took part. Constituents from 91% of the UK got involved. And together, they held around 3,000 conversations with their MPs - sometimes in the corridors of Westminster, sometimes in a school hall or community café, sometimes online from their kitchen table.

For many, it was the first time they’d ever spoken to their MP. For others, it was the first time they’d taken part in something that felt truly collective. What united them were their stories - of rising energy bills, flooding, nature loss, and hopes for a future their children can thrive in.

These are the stories at the heart of the impact report we’re sharing today - and the reason this campaign mattered so deeply.

A national moment rooted in local experience

On 9th July, thousands travelled to Westminster. Some came alone; some came with community groups; some travelled through the night. The atmosphere was hopeful, determined and full of human connection. Campaigners shared conversations with 209 MPs, and overall 73% of MPs were engaged by the campaign through meetings or correspondence.

Campaigners meet with their MP; Photo credit: Vicki Couchman/PA

But ANCF was never meant to be just a day in London. Not everyone can take time off work, afford the travel or navigate the complexity of Westminster. That’s why we created a second phase: Local Lobby Week, giving people the chance to meet their MP closer to home - in schools, libraries, faith spaces, community centres and online.

These local conversations had a different power. They made climate and nature personal. They helped rebuild trust. They reminded people that democracy doesn’t only live in Westminster - it lives in communities.

Together, these two moments created something rare: a national mobilisation that felt personal.

What the campaign achieved

Act Now, Change Forever showed that people all across the UK want to take meaningful political action - and will do so when the invitation is clear, human and supported.

37% of participants were taking political action for the first time.
65% said the campaign boosted their confidence to speak to their MP.
87% planned to follow up afterwards.

The campaign also reached far into public debate:

500+ media pieces, reaching 4.38 million readers
Social content seen by 7 million+ people
Faith leaders, youth activists, community organisers and public figures helped broaden the story of who cares about climate and nature

And perhaps most importantly, it strengthened our movement:

62+ organisations took part
77% felt supported through coordination
93% said the shared purpose was clear
Many described a renewed sense of belonging, solidarity and shared purpose

Participants listen to speeches in the auditorium at QEII centre in Westminster; Photo credit: Vicki Couchman/PA

Why it mattered

Climate change and biodiversity loss shape the security of our homes, our health, our local economies and the futures of the people we love. Communities are already living with the impacts - from extreme weather to rising energy costs - at a time when public trust in politics is fragile and the political consensus on climate is fracturing.

In this context, ANCF mattered because it showed what happens when people choose connection over division, courage over resignation, and communities lead with hope rather than fear.

It reminded us that climate and nature aren’t niche concerns - they are deeply human ones. And when thousands of voices from all walks of life come together, they send a message that cuts through noise and cynicism.

But ANCF was more than a moment. It became a catalyst for long-term change:

It helped rebuild trust in democratic participation.
It deepened relationships between campaigners, communities and MPs.
It strengthened collaboration across the movement.
It gave first-time campaigners the confidence to keep going.
And it signalled that climate and nature remain priorities the public cares profoundly about.

Moments like this don’t solve everything. But they shift what feels possible. They lay the foundations for the organising power we need for the years ahead.

What we heard - and what we must learn

The evaluation surfaced honest lessons alongside the successes.

People described feeling inspired, connected and supported. Many said it was the first time they felt part of something bigger. The combination of a national moment and local conversations proved powerful.

But challenges were clear:

Mobilising people is getting harder amidst rising costs and political fatigue.
Supporters often felt overwhelmed by too many communications.
Some experienced racism or exclusion - unacceptable in any space, and a critical call to action for us.
Accessibility support wasn’t always clear or consistent.

These lessons matter. How we show up as a movement - how safe, welcoming and inclusive our spaces are - is as important as the message we deliver.

What this campaign showed about the movement we need

ANCF revealed truths:

People want to act: when the invitation is human, clear and supported.
Relationships are as powerful as moments.
Unity unlocks scale. To win, we must reach beyond the climate and nature bubble and connect with the realities of everyday life.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and anti-racism must underpin everything we do.
Our greatest power lies in communities.

A final word

This campaign showed the incredible things we can achieve when we come together - from community halls and city streets to the corridors of Westminster.

To every supporter, member organisation, volunteer, campaigner and MP who took part: thank you.

Your voice matters. Your action makes a difference. And together, we will keep building the fairer, healthier, safer future we all need.

As we look ahead to the year to come, we’d love you to stay connected to hear about what’s happening in communities across the UK, and how people are continuing to take action for climate and nature.

Helen