We’re in a climate and ecological emergency. That’s not said nearly enough by those in positions of power on the government benches.

But it’s more than just a soundbite. It should guide every action we take – every vote MPs cast in the House of Commons, every policy we – as CLP delegates, union representatives and affiliates – propose and vote on at Labour conference.

2023’s annual conference is a pivotal moment for us – as the party of change – to show, in stark relief, how different we are from the Tories on climate change and on nature – two huge topics that voters of all ages, backgrounds and persuasions consistently rank as being the most important issues of our times.

By failing to deliver a just transition to a cheaper, cleaner energy future, the Tories have plunged Britain into permanent crisis. No one voted for spiralling energy bills, for polluted air, rivers and seas, for flooded communities, farmland wildfires, or excess deaths as temperatures soar.

As the party of change, we must offer the alternative, not only because the Tories have failed so spectacularly to rise to the challenge; not only because it’s an obvious vote winner; but – most importantly – because it’s the right thing to do, for current and future generations, and because it can be done in a way that protects workers – and in a way that creates a fairer, greener Britain.

We’ve all heard that the Earth’s temperature has increased by 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels. Last month was not only the hottest September on record, but it was higher by a margin described by scientists as “extraordinary”. Alongside this, the natural world is in crisis too. 28% of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. The UK remains one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.

The climate-nature crisis is the biggest challenge we face. Despite the UK Government’s pledges made on the international stage to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C – and to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 – these essential targets are not locked into UK law.

We, as a Labour Party, have an opportunity to get the UK on track and – as we proved with the Climate Change Act 2008 – make the UK a true climate leader again. We must – all of us – as individuals, communities, businesses, public bodies, political parties, politicians and governments take further, rapid action, now, in the crucial next few years for the planet.

It’s for these reasons that I’m the sponsor of the Climate & Ecology Bill, which I introduced in the House of Commons on 10 May. The CE Bill would deliver a just transition – via a joined-up climate and nature plan – to achieve a fairer, greener future for all. The CE Bill is backed by close to 200 MPs and Peers, 250 local councils, mayors like Sadiq Khan, 500 organisations – from the Greener Jobs Alliance to the Women’s Institute – and almost 50,000 members of the public. I’m also very proud to say that the CE Bill is supported by CLPs across the nations. Many of them have quite rightly submitted motions to Conference that call on the Labour Party to weave the CE Bill into our manifesto, and our programme of government.

At Liverpool, we have an opportunity to show that the Labour Party is truly the party of change – the party of climate action, the party of nature restoration – by committing to bold action to create green jobs, to deliver sustainable growth, and to restore nature – bold action to deliver a zero carbon, nature positive economy that works for everyone.

We need to – and we can – achieve all of this via a joined-up plan to address the climate-nature crises together, because we can’t solve one without the other.  So it’s really encouraging to see so many CLPs calling for the party to take a very serious look at the framework and proposals of the CE Bill in their ‘Climate Change & Ecology’ conference motions. But now we need to make sure that this Conference subject, ‘Climate Change & Ecology,’ is prioritised and passes into the compositing process. We must make sure that the climate and nature emergency – the most urgent issue of our time – is debated. I therefore urge everyone who’s attending Conference – whether you want to champion a just transition, climate action or nature restoration – to vote for this crucial subject, so that we can demonstrate to all those who are watching that on the climate and nature emergency, it’s Labour that is leading the way.