Conservative Party Conference 2026: The Top Energy and Environment Events
This year's party conference season heads back to Birmingham this weekend, as the Conservative Party kicks off its annual gathering on Sunday 4th October.
As the Conservatives confront pressure from Reform UK and Restore Britain on their right, and the 'Burnham bounce' on their left, Kemi Badenoch and her newly reshuffled shadow frontbench team are looking to cut through on issues important to the public, including energy affordability.
With Badenoch insistent Burnham will call a snap election next year, the attendees at this year's Conference will be hoping to position their policy proposals for inclusion in any manifesto development process the party begins. Badenoch will also likely use this Conference to enthuse the party faithful ahead of potential door-knocking campaigns.
There's a wide range of events on energy, exploring the Conservative approach to energy security and affordability. Panel sessions focus on bringing down prices, and on how renewables can remain part of the Conservative approach after the party has rejected Net Zero. There are fewer events on nature, but highlights include More in Common continuing its series of party conference events in partnership with nature charities, and Onward discussing access to nature.
The Conservative Environment Network features prominently in our list of fringe highlights, running events across the energy and nature sectors from its base in the Birmingham ICC.
SUNDAY 4th OCTOBER
20:30: Conservative Rural Forum and Countryside Alliance Drinks Reception
Venue: Hyatt Regency Birmingham, DFS
Hear from Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins about Conservative plans for rural areas and communities.
20:30: The Big Blue Reception: Conservative Leadership for Our Oceans – Conservative Friends of the Ocean & Blue Marine Foundation
Venue: Hyatt Regency Birmingham, Andante
This drinks reception will celebrate oceans and coastal communities, and make the case for greater political and economic focus from the Conservatives on the ocean.
MONDAY 5th OCTOBER
10:30: Nature – a winning conservative issue? - More in Common, National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, RSPB & WWF
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Executive Room 7
Hear from a panel featuring Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore, Baroness Thérèse Coffey, and More in Common's Luke Tryl, as they discuss polling on how the electorate's views on nature impacts their voting choices.
10:30: Our future, built here: can clean energy actually deliver security and jobs? - Conservative Environment Network & Scottish Power
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
Join Harriet Cross MP, Shadow Scotland Secretary and DESNZ Minister, and Public First's Daisy Powell-Chandler as they explore how domestic energy generation can deliver energy security and jobs, and how to avoid further price rises.
10:30: Why nuclear energy is paramount to the UK's energy transition – ConservativeHome & Nuclear Industry Association
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 6
Join Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie and Shadow Energy Minister Harriet Cross for a panel exploring how nuclear energy can contribute to energy security and lowering bills.
13:00: Are we ready for climate change? - Local Authority Pension Fund Forum
Venue: Hyatt Regency Birmingham, Drawing Room
This session will explore the impacts of extreme weather on the UK's economy, infrastructure, farming and health, and look at how the UK can adapt to a more volatile climate while continuing to reduce emissions. Panellists include Shadow Transport and DESNZ Minister Greg Hands, Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury Gareth Davies, Public First's Daisy Powell-Chandler and Conservative Environment Network's John Flesher.
13:30: Should Britain still aspire to be the Saudi Arabia of wind? The role of renewables in Conservative energy policy – Conservative Environment Network & RenewableUK
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
This event will explore the value of domestic renewables in an era of volatile geopolitics, and how costs can be reduced without undermining investment.
15:00: Unlocking Energy Innovation: Powering the UK's Future – Onward & National Grid
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Onward Marquee
A panel including Ben Houchen, Mark Garnier MP, Laura Sandys CBE and Sir Simon Clarke will explore how the UK can become a global magnet for energy investment and innovation, and the role grid infrastructure plays in delivering energy security and affordability.
15:00: Powering Britain's comeback: How can we have cheap electricity? - Conservative Environment Network & Energy UK
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
A panel of Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie, Shadow Scotland Secretary and Energy Minister Harriett Cross, Public First's Daisy Powell-Chandler and Energy UK's Dhara Vyas will explore how to tackle energy affordability. They will examine how volatile gas prices, levies and network costs drive up prices and the reforms that could bring them down.
16:30: Private vs Public: who should fund nature restoration? - Conservative Environment Network & RSPB
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
Hear from Shadow DEFRA Minister Dr Neil Hudson and the Adam Smith Institute on unlocking private investment for nature conservation, and how nature restoration can support the UK's future prosperity.
18:00: CEN's Big Pub Quiz – Conservative Environment Network & Octopus Energy
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
Join Conservative Environment Network's supporters and MPs for a relaxed pub quiz. Rounds including politics, general knowledge, and energy will each be hosted by a different political figure.
19:30: Reception: Conservative Environment Network and the coalition of energy trade associations
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
Network with energy thinkers and explore Conservative strategy on climate and energy with Energy UK's CEO Dhara Vyas.
22:00: Green Groups Reception – Chester Zoo, CPRE, Green Alliance, National Trust, RSPB, Woodland Trust & WWF
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
All are welcome at this joint reception between prominent climate and nature organisations.
TUESDAY 6th OCTOBER
08:30: Solving Britain's energy crisis – Centre for Policy Studies
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 7
Join a panel featuring Shadow Energy Secretary Andrew Bowie, Octopus Energy's Jack Pardoe, and Watt-Logic's Kathryn Porter to consider how to bring down bills and attract industrial investment to the UK.
10:30: Electrifying growth: How do we unlock energy abundance in Britain? - Conservative Environment Network & Energy Networks Association
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
Join panellists including the Rt Hon Graham Stuart MP to discuss how to bring down energy prices and deliver energy abundance.
12:00: Is climate change or a Labour government the biggest threat to British food security? - Conservative Environment Network
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
Conservative Environment Network explores the current situation facing British farmers after a summer of extreme heat and drought driven by climate change, alongside a difficult funding landscape.
13:30: The Great British heatwave: are our homes fit for purpose? - Conservative Environment Network & Velux
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Hall 10a
Conservative Environment Network and Velux explore how this summer's extreme heat should inform approaches to home adaptation to reduce impacts on health, quality of life, and the economy. The panel will examine how home adaptation measures can be made more attractive to consumers.
15:30: Parks and prosperity: how to create, protect, and restore access to nature - Onward
Venue: Birmingham ICC, Onward Marquee
Hear from a panel including Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins, Onward's Caroline Elsom, and Conservative Environment Network's John Flesher, on how better investment in nature can improve access for both urban and rural communities and create pride in local areas.