News from Unmesh Desai: Local politician calls on businesses to ‘do their bit’

Local businesses have been called upon to “do their bit” and help London become a zero carbon city.

London Assembly Member for City and East, Unmesh Desai AM, made the comments following a visit to The Crystal in Royal Victoria Docks, which houses an interactive exhibition on urban sustainability.

Unmesh Desai AM visited the sustainable cities exhibition at The Crystal on Friday (24^th March). The Crystal, which also hosts offices for Siemens staff, is one of the most sustainable event spaces in the world. Its interactive exhibition on the future of cities explores global trends and challenges, and proposes solutions to help build more sustainable, healthy and prosperous cities.

Mr Desai was shown around the exhibition by Siemens’ City Director for London, Mark Jenkinson. Mr Jenkinson explained the purpose behind the project is to provide advice and examples for building more sustainable urban environments, and to map out ideas for the cities of the future.

The exhibits tackle issues such as population change, waste and water management, climate change and transport design. He explained the work Siemens have been involved in to monitor and map global changes, and demonstrated some of the technology available to help businesses and communities adapt to these global problems.

The building itself is a feat of sustainable, environmentally friendly engineering, producing 70% less CO2 than comparable office buildings elsewhere in the UK.

It is an all-electric building, using a ground heat source pump and solar power to generate its own energy.

The innovation shown in The Crystal provides a guide to other businesses and developers as to how they can meet the Mayor’s commitment to making London a zero carbon city by 2050.

Following the visit London Assembly Member for City and East, Unmesh Desai said:

“It was a pleasure to visit The Crystal and see some of the excellent work being done here in Newham. The exhibition really shows how Londoners can work together to meet the Mayor’s ambitious target to make London a zero carbon city.

“What Siemens have achieved is not only a fantastic example of sustainable business, but also of how investment and development can help revive industrial areas of the city, such as here in the Royal Victoria Docks.

“I am calling on businesses across Newham – and indeed across the capital – to do their bit to make London one of the most sustainable cities in the world.”