Margaret Beckett Quotations

Everyone must be clear that business as usual is not an option. Most of us live in buildings erected long before we were born and our successors will have to live with the environmental consequences of the buildings we construct today. It is vital that we minimise harmful impacts for those who come after us

The rewards that will flow from a successful shift to a low carbon economy are high. Neither governments nor business can afford to let these opportunities pass them by

In the UK what we've found is that even businesses which prided themselves already on their efficient management find that a really beady-eyed scrutiny of their resource management, with an eye to environmental best-practice and long term sustainability, produce fresh efficiency and fresh savings that actually shock those in the company

Humankind has the science and technology to destroy itself or to provide prosperity for all. But while science offers us these opportunities, science will not make that choice for us. Only the moral power of a world acting as a community can

Today's dialogue has succeeded in reinforcing the need for international partnerships and cooperation in tackling the reality of climate change.

We've known for some time that we have to worry about the impacts of climate change on our children's and grandchildren's generations. But we now have to worry about ourselves as well.

I have to tell you that, sadly, this affectionate greeting contains a virus which has immobilized the House's internal communication system.

Innovation needs to be encouraged so that land managers can seize opportunities related to climate change mitigation and adoption.

Sustainable development is a key issue for the UK's Presidency, and at our meeting we will be talking about climate change and about how to make agriculture more sustainable.

Technology is essential to make the transition to a low-carbon economy and targets ... have a vital role to play in driving forward that progress.