As part of the 2014 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition scheduled for March 27-29, there will be nine particular interesting forums where experts and scholars from around the world will present their knowledge and views on environmental issues. Two high-calibre experts have been invited as keynote speakers, namely, Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz, Recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, Doctor of Social Sciences honoris causa, University of Macau, Former Chief Economist of the World Bank and University Professor at Columbia University, USA, and Mr. James Jao, who is President of Long On Group (J.A.O. Design), Senior Expert on Planning, State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of the People's Republic of China and Steering Member of United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). The topic of Professor Stiglitz´s keynote speech will be "Growing Together for a Green Future: Why Solving the Inequality Issue is Crucial for Environmental Protection". According to Prof. Stiglitz, regardless of whether it is a global climate change or an environmental issue that only affects a particular area, this phenomenon will certainly impact the endangered natural resources, and vulnerable groups will be the most affected. This is precisely one of the inequalities that the governments of each country should solve. Furthermore, to reduce economic injustice is also a realistic demand, given that, if people only focus on the immediate interest and neglect sustainable development, environmental policy may not produce the desired effect. In his presentation, Prof. Stiglitz will analyse in retrospect the origin of economic inequality, its impact, and its relationship with environmental policy, to point out that, in the implementation of environmental policies and programmes, it is important to take into account two important factors, namely, equity and the environment.
Mr Jao's presentation will be based on its extensive experience in the field of urban planning and construction: his presentation will be titled "3-Star Green Building Certification in China and How to Use These Rating Criteria". In recent years, many developed countries attach great importance to the environmental, performance of the buildings, with many countries, one after another, setting their own evaluation standard for green buildings. China, based on its national conditions, has also implemented a certification procedure for green buildings applicable for the country, and in 2001 completed the "China´s Ecological Residence Technology Evaluation System". People´s increased awareness of the contribution of green buildings to enhance sustainable development will boost the development of the environmental sector, in particular, the design of environmental buildings catering to the different requirements throughout the year. Mr. Jao will also describe the current status of the development of green building technologies in the developed countries.
