Members of the East Lothian Climate Hub team were among the 500 Scots attending a mass lobby at Scottish Parliament on Thursday.
It was part of the country’s biggest ever climate lobby, asking MSPs to take more ambitious climate action.
Led by Stop the Climate Chaos Scotland – a group of 70 charities, including Climate Hubs for Edinburgh, West and East Lothian, – the event was held at the Dynamic Earth museum in Holyrood, where Scots were given the opportunity to meet their MSPs and ask them to deliver a fairer, more affordable response to the Climate Emergency.
30 MSPs registered their intent on engaging with hundreds of their constituents from across the country.
This record-breaking event comes ahead of the publication of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan, later this year, and less than a year away from the Scottish election.
The issues raised included growing concern about Scotland’s repeatedly missed emissions-reduction targets, lack of preparedness for recent extreme weather events and the need for better support of local climate action initiatives.
Among the attendees were representatives for the 24 National Climate Action Hubs.
Bobby Pembleton East Lothian Climate Hub Manager said it was a great opportunity to show the value of the work done by local climate action networks and that more needed to be done to raise the profile and continued support for the programme.
“More than 34,000 people engaged with their local Hubs last year, through 1,500 local workshops and events, securing £850k for communities from small seed grants and support,” he said.
With 24 hubs Scotland-wide, the hubs form a trusted, effective local delivery network for climate action. As an initiative Pembleton said the hubs continue to provide excellent value for the climate action cause, amplifying small funds into community-level change.
“Long-term funding is needed to secure the grassroots groups shaping national climate policy, and unlock community ability to take climate action.”
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The four main asks from the Mass Climate Lobby
Emelia Hanna, the mass lobby coordinator for SCCS, said the historic event came at a key moment, as MSPs begin shaping their election pledges for 2026. “Scotland is at a turning point and needs bolder climate leadership. Our climate plans are off track, and communities are already feeling the effects. “We’ll be meeting MSPs face-to-face to demand real, practical action on climate change that supports people and nature to thrive, with warm homes, clean air, secure jobs and a safe climate future for all.” The main asks of the SCCS event were:- Tackle climate change in ways that reduce inequality, cut living costs, and improve health.
- Deliver a fair transition to clean energy, with good green jobs and empowered communities
- Show international leadership on climate justice
- Restore nature and build resilience to climate impacts
Attendance and East Lothian’s climate asks
The event was well attended by East Lothian constituents who had questions on funding for climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, community owned energy and heat networks. The big ask from one round table of ten East Lothian residents was why, having declared a “Climate Emergency” in 2019, had there been so little action from parliament. Unfortunately, during an hour-long session, MSPs for East Lothian we were hoping to engage with were unavailable for questions. We have been offered the opportunity to bring our concerns to them during their surgery hours. We intend to take them up on this. A representative for SCCS said that attendance was closer to 20 of the original 30 MSPs. Despite some disappointment at MSP turnout in parts, it was a very well organised and focused event, with clear asks from the people of Scotland. Thank you to the volunteers, MSPs and hundreds of their local constituents who turned out today.The East Lothian Climate Hub was founded with funding from the Scottish Govenment with one of the objectives being “empowering communities to have more involvement and influence in policy and decision making.”
East Lothian Climate Hub will be taking the concerns and submissions from attendees of the Mass Climate Lobby to their MSPs in the weeks ahead. Having helped SCCS organise the largest event of its kind at Scottish parliament, it is clear that raising the visibility of these issues and the work of local climate initatives will be a become a growing part of our work. We look forward to talking and working more closely with our elected representatives. If you were not able to submit your asks during the event, please get in touch at hello@eastlothianclimatehub.orgThis is what a @sccscot Mass-ive Lobby on climate action looks like outside parliament today. Thanks to the constituents and MSPs who turned up to listen, plus reps from south Scotland Hubs Edinburgh, Fife, East, Mid and West Lothians #ActNowChangeForever pic.twitter.com/zvAxERtyRT
— Thomas Bywater (@ThomasBywater) September 18, 2025
