Liberal Democrat Autumn Conference 2026: The top energy and environment events
Conference season is in full swing again and Seahorse is mapping out the must-see energy and environment events for those attending.
The Liberal Democrats arrive in Brighton with a frontbench of spokespeople now well established and with 71 MPs representing the party from across the UK. Organisationally they benefit from the work of the Green Lib Dems and the Liberal Democrats for Nature and Climate.
Despite these strengths, the party is still working out how to adapt to a new, more popular and progressive Labour Prime Minister, as well as leaking votes to parties across the spectrum.
Now back at 13%, the party has recently recovered from its lowest YouGov voting intention score of the Parliament, at 11%. As such, the question of whether Ed Davey is the right leader to prepare the party for the next election persists.
These debates will play out during a jam-packed few days on the South Coast, with the full guide to the conference hall available here and the conference directory (including fringe events) here.
Saturday 19th September
Event: 20.15-21.30, Communicating the Climate and Nature Crisis. The Green Liberal Democrats and the Liberal Democrats for Nature and Climate (LDNC) host Pippa Heylings MP (Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero) and Wera Hobhouse MP on a session focused on how the party makes the case for nature and climate to the public,
Venue: Alexandra Room, Grand Hotel.
Sunday 20th September
Event: 9.15–10.15am (Preceded by a swim from 8.15–9.15am) Beach Clean & Comb. A beach clean with Sir Ed Davey MP, environmental charity leaders and Liberal Democrats, following a swim organised by Surfers Against Sewage and Paddle UK. With Marine Conservation Society and Rewilding Britain, the event will highlight why healthy seas matter and why tackling pollution must be a political priority.
Venue: On the beach
Event: 12.15-13.15, Community Action Against Sewage. ALDC and LGA Lib Dems host Surfers Against Sewage for a session aimed at councillors and local campaigners on tackling sewage discharge at community level.
Venue: Consort room, The Grand Brighton.
Event: 12.15-13.15, Forever Polluted? The Health and Environmental Threats of PFAS 'Forever Chemicals'. CHEM Trust and the Green Liberal Democrats examine the regulatory and public health case on PFAS contamination.
Venue: Gloucester Room, DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole.
Event: 12.15-13.15, Development and Deforestation: A Liberal International Response. Sponsored by Chester Zoo and WWF, Moncia Harding MP (Spokesperson for International Development) and Pippa Heylings MP (Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero) discuss how the Lib Dems can lead the fight against deforestation and support global conservation organisations tackling climate and nature crisis.
Venue: Alexandra Room, Grand Hotel.
Event: 13.45-14.45, A Fair Vision for the Energy Transition: Protecting workers and empowering communities. Sponsored by Uplift, the panel will discuss how the Lib Dems can strengthen action, policy and law for a fair transition.
Venue: Churchill Room, DoubleTree by Hilton.
Event: 18.15-19.15, Question Time with Daisy Cooper MP: Energy Bills Edition. Sponsored by Octopus Energy. Live question time session with Daisy Cooper (Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Treasury) will focus on how the Lib Dems aim to tackle the cost of energy.
Venue: Alexandra Room, Grand Hotel.
Event: 19.45-21.00, The Climate and Nature Reception. Sponsored by Green Alliance. Speech from Pippa Heylings MP (Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero) making a case for how the Lib Dems are the true green party in UK politics.
Venue: Alexandra Room, Grand Hotel.
Monday 21st September
Event: 13.45-14.45, Powering communities: building energy and climate resilience in rural locations. Hosted by Social Market Foundation and National Grid, the session will focus on how a more resilient energy system can drive prosperity, affordability and energy security for all communities.
Venue: The Marine Room, Brighton Harbour Hotel.
Event: 18.15-19.25, Rights of Nature: Why It Matters for Britain's Future. The Green Liberal Democrats explore the case for extending legal rights to the natural world.
Venue: Buckingham Room, DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole.
Event: 18.15-19.15, Are we ready for climate change? Gideon Amos MP (Spokesperson for Housing and Communities) chairs the event with Pippa Heylings MP (Spokesperson for Energy Security and Net Zero), Wera Hobhouse MP and Claire Young MP [TBC] joining to discuss how ready the UK is for climate change.
Venue: Empress Room, Grand Hotel.
Event: 19.45-21.00, The Climate and Nature Reception. Hosted by More in Common, the National Trust, WWF, the Wildlife Trusts, the Woodland Trust and RSPB, the reception will launch exclusive new polling for More in Common focused on what nature will mean for the Lib Dems in the coming years.
Venue: Meeting Room 1C, Brighton Centre.