The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, today joined a variety of influential business leaders in addressing the Building a Low Carbon World' Conference at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

The Mayor and key business figures such as Stuart Rose, Chief Executive Officer, Marks & Spencer Plc and Adrian Wyatt, Chief Executive Officer, Quintain Estates and Development PLC examined the impact of the built' and urbanised environment on carbon emissions and what measures can be taken to reduce the carbon footprint of existing and new developments.

Bringing together senior business leaders from across the UK, the attendees discussed what measures they are taking to reduce carbon emissions and how they can become more sustainable as they grow their businesses.

Addressing the conference the Mayor spoke about his recently launched Climate Change Action Plan, which is the first comprehensive plan of any major city on how it will cut carbon emissions. He outlined how big cuts in London's CO2 emissions are possible but only if everyone in London plays their part - including individuals, companies and the public sector.

The Mayor's speech focused on the built environment and how he is using the Climate Change Action Plan, the London Plan and other policy tools to drive carbon reductions across all sectors, including existing buildings and new developments, as well as the overall planning of the city.

Speaking at the conference, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: To deliver the real carbon reductions that we need to tackle climate change we need to ensure that our buildings are energy efficient, as existing buildings account for three-quarters of London's emissions. I also want to see a shift to using decentralised energy and I have set a goal for a quarter of London's energy supply to be moved off the national grid to local more efficient decentralised systems by 2025. I want to see London playing a key role in catalysing the market for low carbon technologies. This will not only help deliver carbon reductions, but will develop London's skill set and market in these areas. As a world-leading financial centre, London is perfectly positioned to be the centre of emerging carbon-trading schemes.

London can, and must, lead the way in reducing carbon emissions by showing that our environmental and economic interests are directly aligned with each other. Our capital can grow and prosper as a world city while reducing its carbon emissions and we will be a more successful and prosperous city as a result. '