Beijing, 26 – 28 March 2007

Ministers, conference delegates, ladies and gentlemen I had hoped to be with you today for the opening of this important international event, but prior commitments in the United Kingdom do not allow me to join you on this occasion. I send you my very best wishes, and my enthusiastic support for your conference and exhibition which could not come at a better time.

climate change is now widely recognised as the greatest global challenge facing mankind. The importance of designing, constructing and managing our buildings and our cities in a more sustainable way is of critical importance in addressing that challenge.

I personally have been leading international developments in this area since 1997, when the United Kingdom was instrumental in launching the Kyoto Protocol on climate change which now covers more than 160 countries globally and over 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Since Kyoto, the momentum for international cooperation and action on climate change has been growing relentlessly, and in the past six months we have seen important developments with the publication of two major reviews: The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, produced by Sir Nicholas Stern for the UK Government, and the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The IPCC’s report on the science of climate change removes any remaining doubts that climate change is happening, that its environmental and social impacts are dramatic, and that human activity is a significant cause of global warming. In other words, we have to take action – and we have to take action now.

The Stern Review concluded that the world has to act now on climate change, or face devastating economic consequences. The impact of carbon emissions on global temperatures is already around half a degree Celsius, and if no effective action is taken on emissions the probability is that global temperatures will rise between two and three degrees Celsius over the next 50 years. Indeed, there is even a 50% chance that temperatures could rise by five degrees Celsius.

The environmental and economic impacts of such temperature changes would be devastating, resulting in dramatic falls in crop yields and a fall in global economic output of up to 10% - with particularly hash impacts upon the poorest countries in the world.

The good news from Stern, however, is that action can be taken now to stabilise emissions over the next 20 years, and that such action is affordable – costing in the region of 1% of gross domestic product (GDP), considerably less that the costs we will face if we do nothing.

Responding to these challenges, the British Government has taken a leading role in developing new policies aimed at achieving the world’s first low-carbon economy. In particular, over the past ten years much work has been done in developing higher standards and practices for sustainability and energy use in buildings – which is the special focus of your event in Beijing.

I am pleased to note that the idea of developing intelligent & green buildings – which is providing the main theme for your conference - was first developed in the United Kingdom, where the potential was first demonstrated in 1998 at the INTEGER Millennium House.

These initial intelligent & green building principles were subsequently further developed and tested in Hong Kong, at the INTEGER Hong Kong pavilion, and in a major demonstration project in Kunming, Yunnan Province which I personally launched in 2003. The effective demonstration of these intelligent & green building principles was one of the inspirations for the first intelligent & green buildings event in Beijing, which  was launched by the Chinese Ministry of Construction in 2005.

Britain has extensive world-class experience and expertise in the field of intelligent, green and energy efficient buildings, which we are delighted to be developing and sharing with the Chinese Ministry of Construction and with you, the delegates at this 3rd international conference. Seven British speakers will be presenting at your conference, and thirteen of our leading companies are exhibiting their products and services in the UK Pavilion area, which is directly adjacent to this conference hall. I encourage you to meet with these companies, to exchange ideas, and to develop your shared interests and opportunities.

For nothing could be more important than the development and application of best-practice intelligent, green and energy efficient building solutions here in China, where some 50% of world construction is currently underway.

Under the dynamic leadership of the Chinese Ministry of Construction, and with the positive involvement and support of the international community, I am confident that this will be achieved. I wish you every success in your endeavours at this important event, which can make a major contribution to the construction of a low-carbon, sustainable future for us all.