Thousands rally at Westminster urging MPs to fund climate action for hardest hit communities

Thousands of activists, including schoolchildren, faith leaders, parents, and grandparents, gathered at Parliament Square in London for a significant mass lobby event titled “Act Now, Change Forever.” On a busy day in Westminster, approximately 5,000 people from across the UK met with their Members of Parliament to urge urgent climate and nature action amidst increasing climate-driven extreme weather. The event sought to prompt politicians to commit funding to communities hardest hit by climate change, restore nature, and secure a greener, fairer future with robust support for UK jobs.

The colourful scene featured protestors wearing vibrant t-shirts and holding up creative signage with messages such as “Make Polluters Pay,” and “Worried mother trying to protect my kids,” while symbolic items like a giant melting ice cream shaped as planet Earth and a surfboard emblazoned with “Ocean + Climate Emergency” underscored the urgency of the crisis. Among the attendees was an 80-year-old grandfather, Sigurd Reimers from Somerset, representing the group Our Grandchildren’s Climate, advocating for pensions to divest from fossil fuels to safeguard the future of forthcoming generations.

Campaigners highlighted recent climate events including droughts in northern England and flooding in Texas to demonstrate the immediate and global impact of climate change. Kate Norgrove, executive director of conservation advocacy at WWF, pointed out how politicians often underestimate public support for climate action, as evidenced by the extensive turnout of people from around the country queuing to meet their MPs. She stressed that the urgency of the issue demands immediate response, saying, “The time was yesterday really. We can feel the heat.”

Mark Funnell from the National Trust emphasised the tangible consequences of climate change on the UK’s landscapes, mentioning droughts, floods, and extreme weather already affecting many regions. He called for stronger parliamentary action and said that although the government has laid out ambitious environmental commitments, more progress is needed on the ground. Dani Jordan from Surfers Against Sewage also stressed the interconnectedness of climate, pollution, and nature crises, praising the event for uniting diverse voices to foster hope and collective strength.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband lent his support via video message, acknowledging the significance of the gathering and affirming the government’s commitment to placing climate and nature at the forefront of its agenda. He highlighted recent government efforts, including investments in clean energy, land use reforms for nature recovery, and funding for tree planting and peatland restoration. Miliband described these as part of the most substantial UK investment in climate, clean energy, and nature ever announced.

The event, coordinated by The Climate Coalition and supported by a variety of organisations such as Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, Tearfund, and Zero Hour, was part of a wider campaign to mobilise citizens and provide resources, training, and guidance for engaging MPs on climate policy. Activities during the day included photo opportunities, panel discussions, and networking hubs aimed at empowering new and experienced campaigners alike. Participants were encouraged to join the growing grassroots movement to demonstrate widespread public demand for decisive climate action.

This mass lobby reflects a critical moment of civic mobilisation amidst mounting environmental challenges, emphasising the necessity for urgent, comprehensive responses to the climate crisis both in the UK and globally.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative is current, reporting on an event that took place on 9 July 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 9 July 2025. The event was coordinated by The Climate Coalition, with support from organisations such as Oxfam, Friends of the Earth, Tearfund, and Zero Hour. ([theclimatecoalition.org](https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/mass-lobby-2025?utm_source=openai), [oxfam.org.uk](https://www.oxfam.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-oxfam/climate-action/act-now-change-forever/?utm_source=openai), [friendsoftheearth.uk](https://friendsoftheearth.uk/climate/act-now-change-forever-join-climate-coalition-mass-lobby?utm_source=openai), [tearfund.org](https://www.tearfund.org/campaigns/lets-act-now-to-change-forever?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The direct quotes from Kate Norgrove and Sigurd Reimers appear to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. However, similar sentiments have been expressed in previous events, such as the 2019 ‘Time Is Now’ lobby. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/26/time-is-now-thousands-march-in-london-for-urgent-climate-action?utm_source=openai))

Source reliability

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative originates from The Irish News, a reputable organisation. However, the report includes a video message from Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, which may indicate a press release origin. Press releases typically warrant a high freshness score but can sometimes lack original reporting.

Plausability check

Score:
9

Notes:
The claims about the mass lobby event and the participation of various organisations are plausible and supported by multiple sources. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as exact numbers of attendees or detailed quotes from MPs, which would strengthen its credibility. The tone and language are consistent with typical reporting on such events.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is current and reports on a recent event with support from reputable organisations. While some quotes are original, similar sentiments have been expressed in previous events. The source is reputable, though the inclusion of a video message from a government official suggests a press release origin. The claims are plausible, but the lack of specific factual anchors slightly reduces the overall credibility. Overall, the narrative passes the fact-check with high confidence.