Our Future Surrey: What It Is and Why It Matters
- Bronwen Smith-Thomas
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
Did you know that local councils directly impact over a third of our climate emissions and that in Surrey, we’re about to see a seismic shake-up of how our councils are run?
In May, we’ll be electing new councils which will shape decisions on everything from energy and transport to housing, nature and community services for years to come. That’s where Our Future Surrey comes in.
Developed by a coalition of community groups from across Surrey, including Zero Carbon Guildford, Our Future Surrey has created a pledge responding to local concerns about congestion and air pollution, the cost of living, and access to nature.
We’re asking all candidates in the upcoming local elections to sign the pledge for a healthier, greener and more affordable Surrey for everyone, now and for future generations.
When is this happening
The campaign will run up to 7th May 2026, when people across Surrey will be voting for councillors for our two new ‘unitary authorities’, West Surrey and East Surrey.
In Guildford, we’ll be voting for councillors to the new West Surrey Council, which will replace both Surrey County Council and Guildford Borough Council.
From 10th April, the list of candidates for election will be published, and we’ll be sending out an email to our subscribers with more details of how to find and contact candidates in your area to ask them to sign the pledge.
Why this campaign matters
These elections are particularly important as the councillors we elect will not only serve our communities until 2031, but will have a key role in shaping our new council and its priorities.
Recently it can feel as if there’s a massive backlash against climate action and net zero. In some parts of the media and in some political parties, there’s a strong push against action. However, recent research has shown that politicians across the spectrum are out of step with public opinion on net zero, and that media coverage of net zero is more than two and a half times as negative as public sentiment.
This campaign aims to shift that balance, highlighting popular support for common sense policies that improve well-being, reduce bills, support communities and tackle climate change.
By asking candidates to pledge support ahead of the elections, we’ll know where our new councillors stand when they are elected. We’re hopeful that a majority will support the pledge and build a West Surrey Council that will support a healthier, greener and more affordable place for everyone, now and for future generations.
How you can get involved
At the heart of the Our Future Surrey campaign is the pledge. We’re asking candidates to sign, community groups to endorse, and individuals to help spread the word.
You can help by:
Reaching out to any community groups you are part of (could be a residents’ association, scout group or church) and asking them to endorse the pledge. Information about what that means is here: https://ourfuturesurrey.org/community-groups
If you’re a member of a political party, you could help by contacting them to let them know about the pledge and asking for candidates to sign up.
Volunteering to help with the campaign behind the scenes - there are lots of jobs that need doing, from collating data to communications.
From 10th April, we’ll be asking people to contact their candidates directly. More information on how to do that will come in an email. We’re also planning to invite candidates to come to some of our Zero events in April and early May.
Get in touch with Bronwen (bronwen@zerocarbonguildford.org) for more information if you want to help, and for template emails to send to community groups or political parties.
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