IEMA attends LPC23 - The Labour Party Conference 2023

Asim Ali, IEMA’s Public Affairs Officer, shares insights into his participation at the Labour Party Conference 2023, where he was joined by Ben Goodwin, Director of Policy and Public Affairs. The conference spanned from October 8th to October 11th.

A broad range of policy areas were discussed at the Labour Party Conference 2023, including many that were of interest to IEMA around net zero delivery, nature restoration, and how the workforce of the future must become greener.

IEMA's participation in the conference encompassed a range of discussions and meetings, where the focus was on creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for the UK based on our key policy asks.

IEMA was involved in fringe events that touched on climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as green workforce transformation. These events provided a platform for both industry and policymakers to address critical issues affecting our environment and economy.

The feeling at these events was that there continues to be an urgent need for a well-defined industrial strategy to facilitate the transition to a net-zero economy, with industry leaders expressing their desire for long-term policy frameworks.

The lack of certainty in recent months has created an atmosphere of hesitancy within the private sector.

The discussions underscored the importance of government intervention to provide a stable environment where businesses can confidently invest in green technologies and sustainable practices. The call for consistent policies that align with the nation's climate and environmental goals resonated throughout the conference.

Ben Goodwin, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, shared IEMA’s insights at the "Labour Together and OVO Private Roundtable: A Jobs Transition," where he emphasised the importance of upskilling and reskilling the existing workforce to greener ways of working.

Labour’s conference marked the end of the season, with Parliament returning on 16th October. It was also the last party conference that we are likely to see before the next general election, before which IEMA will continue to advocate for the UK’s political parties to embed policies within their manifestos that are geared towards addressing the climate and biodiversity crises that we face.