Vote for the Climate
Vote for climate
The upcoming Scottish election is a crucial one. The leaders we elect will make decisions that shape our lives for generations. As Scotland rebuilds from coronavirus, we have a unique chance to transform our society for the better and put climate action at the heart of it.
But the promises made so far are not good enough. We cannot afford to let climate change slip down the agenda.
We need our government to take on Scotland’s fair share of climate action. We want to show that Scotland’s crucial youth vote is a vote for climate!
According to research, young people aged 16-24 are the only group to rank climate as the issue most important to them. The climate strikes have shown us how powerful we are when we act together in huge numbers. It’s time to put the pressure on and show just how many of us there are!
We are urging as many young people as possible to make sure they are registered to vote, and to take the pledge to vote for climate.
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Register to vote.
If you are aged 16 or over you are eligible to vote in Scotland, no matter where you were born. To register to vote go to gov.uk/registertovote (you will need your National Insurance number, though you can register without). Make sure you register before midnight on Monday 19th of April!
There are several different ways to vote: in person, by postal vote, or by proxy. To vote by postal ballot or proxy you need to apply. This will involve downloading, printing and filling in an application form. More information on postal voting. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm Tuesday 6th April.
If you are a student, you might be able to register to vote at both your home address and your term-time address, though you can only cast your ballot at one of these. More information on voting as a student.
Climate vote checklist
Follow our climate voter checklist to make sure you get your voice heard!
Are you registered to vote? Do you know what your voting plan is for the day? Take some time to plan – think about how much time you’ll need to go to the polling station, or what day you will post your ballot.
Most importantly, make sure you know what issues you care about, and what climate promises you’re looking for in party manifestos.
Make sure you’ve signed the pledge to vote for climate and shared it on social media. Get your voice heard and make it clear that young people are voting for climate!
Upcoming events
Youth groups including YFoES, Youthlink, 2050 Climate Group, Fridays for Future Scotland and others are holding two crucial events in the run up to May’s elections.
🔥5pm 12th March: The Warm Up – youth climate activists and expert speakers explore the key climate questions in this election. More information and book your ticket.
🔥7pm 9th April: The Climate Hot Seat – a digital youth led hustings to hold politicians and candidates accountable for their climate action. More info and book your ticket.
Who we are
The Vote for Climate pledge was created by Young Friends of the Earth Scotland, Fridays for Future Scotland, and Teach the Future Scotland.
Fridays for Future Scotland was founded by young people from across Scotland in early 2019. Inspired by the work of Greta Thunberg and other environmental activists, they knew it was time for the Scottish Government to take action to tackle this crisis. Our first strike was held on the 15th March and since then our network has grown into multiple branches across the country and partnerships with large organisations. More about Fridays for Future Scotland.
Teach the Future Scotland We’re campaigning for Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills John Swinney to implement 4 specific policy asks to achieve our vision of broad climate and environmental education. Our Scottish campaign has two parent organisations, Fridays For Future Scotland and National Union of Students Scotland. More about Teach the Future Scotland.
Young Friends of the Earth Scotland is a grassroots network of young people (aged 16-30), from across Scotland working collectively for social and environmental justice. Our network is made up of a combination of local groups, allied organisations and passionate individuals across the country. We welcome any young people in Scotland to get involved and attend our events. More about YFoES.