What we learned at this year’s party conferences

At a glance

• Labour: Big talk on fairness; warmer homes, good jobs, and a just green transition — though little detail on the upcoming climate plan. Strong support from delegates for taxing polluters to fund change – but less from the Prime Minister.
• Greens: Positive energy under new leader Zack Polanski. Strong focus on democracy, protest rights, and standing up for justice from Palestine to climate action.
• Lib Dems: A call for unity and focus on renewable energy to cut bills and boost nature. Agreed a new climate policy including a welcome ban on new onshore coal, oil and gas exploration, and production.
• Conservatives: Promised a new climate strategy after plans to scrap the Climate Change Act – a move that we called political vandalism – sparked backlash.

This year, the mood across the conferences reflected the urgency and complexity of the challenges ahead: the intertwined crises of climate, inequality, and democracy. Here’s what stood out.

Labour Party conference

At Labour’s party conference, talk of fairness dominated the conversation — from energy and housing to jobs and migration. But despite regular references to fairness in the green transition, we didn’t hear nearly enough references to the government’s forthcoming new climate plan. The Warm Homes Plan – also due to be published this month, and something we’ve also been campaigning around – was discussed, with the minister responsible Martin McCluskey describing the £13.2 billion plan to upgrade 5 million homes as a ‘sea change’. And we heard our messages around fairness echoed by many, with council leaders and others clearly stating that people must see that climate action means lower bills, better homes, and good jobs. We also heard from trade unions and MPs on the need for a just transition for oil and gas workers and their communities.

There was growing appetite among the Labour grassroots for wealth and polluter taxes to fund the green transition, though this contrasted sharply with Starmer’s speech dismissing those advocating for a wealth tax as “snake oil merchants”. Perhaps he needs to have a look at our guide on how taxes on polluters can fund a bold and fair climate plan. We had a more positive response from MPs visiting the exhibition, where we spent time on a stand with our friends from the Make Polluters Pay coalition.

On Palestine and protest, a historic vote saw Labour acknowledge a UN report on genocide in Gaza. Friends of the Earth staff questioned ministers on what action they were taking to stop the genocide. Our chief executive Asad Rehman spoke at fringe events organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stand Up To Racism to underline the links between protest rights, human rights, and environmental justice. Asad also spoke at a fringe event on corporate harms which we organised in partnership with the Corporate Justice Coalition, ActionAid UK and Fairtrade Foundation – an opportunity to highlight why we’re calling for an end to exploitation by big business through our Planet over Profit campaign.

Green Party conference

The Green Party conference was buzzing with optimism around new leader Zack Polanski. Themes included the interconnection of planning and democracy, with discussion of how the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would risk damaging nature and forcing developments on communities – while taking away their voice.

Asad joined Caroline Lucas for a vital discussion on the right to protest, a theme that ran through the whole conference.

What we're facing is not just a protest crackdown, but a coordinated state-led assault on the very possibility of dissent,” Asad told the audience. “Peaceful protest is being criminalised. These laws are authoritarian tools designed to suppress political resistance — especially from those fighting for justice. We are now living in an era where we are being criminalised for caring.

We also took part in a powerful session on justice for Palestine, highlighting the environmental dimensions of the oppression faced by Palestinians. Our sister organisation PENGON (Friends of the Earth Palestine) has lost 10 members in the genocide.

Amid this, we spoke with Green MPs, councillors and supporters about issues including deforestation and the urgent need for a stronger UK climate adaptation plan.

Liberal Democrats’ conference

At the Liberal Democrats’ conference the focus was on unity and resisting the far right, with Tim Farron’s rally cry — “Let us reclaim our flags for those who reunite and rebuild, not divide and destroy” — bringing Union Jacks and confetti cannons to the stage. But beneath the theatrics, there was discussion of renewables, devolution, and local action — themes the party was keen to remind delegates are in its DNA. Events included sessions on how to make the case for renewables to bring down bills and nurture nature, the interconnectedness of the right to land and the right to protest, and the risk posed to local democracy by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The conference adopted a new climate policy, which included a welcome ban on all new onshore coal, oil and gas exploration and production – although also included support for small modular reactors (nuclear power), a more contentious topic.

Conservative Party conference

And finally, the Conservative Party Conference, where – as expected – leader Kemi Badenoch announced that they would scrap the Climate Change Act – a move that we have condemned as political vandalism. After many others responded with concern, including business leaders, the party has promised a ‘proper strategy’ for tackling climate change, but it’s unclear what that strategy is. The party also announced they’d leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), another policy where we have serious concerns. But we were pleased that our leaflets reminding Conservatives of their legacy on climate and nature, handed out by the brilliant Manchester Friends of the Earth, went down very well with delegates.

We’ll keep pushing our politicians to show the courage and leadership needed to tackle the climate and nature crises — with environmental justice at its heart.