Humanist Society interview series: Becky Kenton-Lake on Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s mass climate lobby
August 5, 2025
As part of our campaign on climate change and the nature crises, we are proud members of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. The group’s Coalition Manager Becky Kenton-Lake tells us about their upcoming mass climate lobby, a chance to ask for urgent action from MSPs.
Hi Becky, please introduce yourself
I’m Becky Kenton-Lake and I’m the Coalition Manager at Stop Climate Chaos Scotland. We are Scotland’s climate coalition, made up of over 70 diverse organisations who campaign together for climate action and justice.
What is the mass climate lobby and how can people get involved?
A mass lobby is when lots of people meet with their MSPs on the same day to have powerful conversations on issues they care about. On Thursday 18 September 2025 we are supporting hundreds of people from across Scotland to come to the Scottish Parliament to have conversations with their MSPs. We’ll be asking for leadership to protect what matters most: our health, our nature, our communities, our climate, and our future.
We need to ensure a thriving natural environment which supports our health, wellbeing, and livelihood for generations to come.
We organised similar events in 2016 and 2018 and these helped to get Scotland’s ambitious climate targets agreed. This is a critical time for MSPs to hear from their constituents about the need for action. We need homes that are warmer and cheaper to heat, secure jobs and skills training, healthy and sustainable food for all, better public transport and safe streets for walking, wheeling, and cycling, and poverty reduction measures to support those most impacted by climate change. We also need to ensure a thriving natural environment which supports our health, wellbeing, and livelihood for generations to come.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never met your MSPs or spoken about climate before. We’ll give you all the support you need, from making it super easy to contact your MSPs to feeling confident on the day. Getting involved is simple. Pledge to attend by registering here. Spread the word by bringing your friends, family and community with you. Then, once you’ve registered, email your MSP using our simple email template to let them know you’re coming and want to meet with them. Watch out for emails from us. We will share information about training and what to expect on the day.
More frequent events like the severe flooding in Brechin and the devastating wildfires on Arran are taking a huge toll on our natural world, homes, businesses and health.
How would you describe the position we’re at with Scotland’s climate journey?
From extreme weather to food insecurity, the global impact of climate change, inequality, and loss of nature are already affecting people in Scotland. More frequent events like the severe flooding in Brechin and the devastating wildfires on Arran are taking a huge toll on our natural world, homes, businesses, and health. They’re driving up costs and putting pressure on our vital services in Scotland. The impacts are not being felt equally, with some communities being hit first and hardest.
Scotland has been a climate leader. But a lack of action to reduce emissions since setting climate targets meant that these were continually missed, and eventually watered down. Public concern about climate change remains high. But the government is not delivering the necessary action at the speed and scale that’s needed.
This is a pivotal moment. A new Climate Change Plan is being produced and political parties are writing their manifestos for the Scottish Parliament election in 2026. At the mass lobby we’ll be asking MSPs to turn around Scotland’s faltering climate journey. They need to use all opportunities to act with urgency to create healthy, secure, and thriving communities, now and for the future.
What gives me hope is knowing that we are the silent majority. By coming together and raising our voices we can create a powerful momentum for change.
Climate anxiety is common amongst ecologically minded humanists. What give you hope for the future?
It’s understandable that many people feel fearful for the future, not only due to the climate crisis, but with increased global insecurity, inequality, and attacks on democracy. What gives me hope is knowing that we are the silent majority. By coming together and raising our voices we can create a powerful momentum for change.
Communities across Scotland are already taking action and it’s time for political leaders to step up and do the same. The solutions will deliver real benefits to our lives and build a fairer, healthier, more stable and resilient future for everyone.
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