Fortunately, by the beginning of the four-day conference, which started on 18 April, the ban had been lifted, and the effects were limited. More than 400 delegates were able to take part in the opening plenary session.

Nobel laureate and chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Professor Rajendra Pachauri, appeared by video-link to remind the delegates that sea levels are rising, temperatures are rising, and snow levels are falling. It is expected that global average temperatures will rise over the course of this century by between 1.8 and four degrees Celsius. The amount of resources mankind now consumes exceeds the planet’s ability to regenerate by 30%.

Professor Pachauri (pictured), who shared the Nobel prize with Al Gore in 2007, communicates a familiar message: mankind has to change its habits. In particular, developed nations have to lead from the front to cut the link between economic progress and depletion of the world’s resources.

Ingrid Lieten, Flemish minister for science and innovation, talked about clean technologies in Flanders and the enshrinement of the principle in the government’s Flanders in Action (ViA) programme.

As well as tackling climate change, ViA focuses on traffic mobility, the aging of the population and dependence on fossil fuels for energy. She also spoke about the Flanders Cleantech Association, which aims to develop innovative projects in conjunction with the Environmental Innovation Platform, with Flanders Investment and Trade and with the Flemish Institute for Technological Research.

“It is important to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of the transformation of our economy into a sustainable one,” the minister said.

• A webcast of Professor Pachauri’s address to the conference can be watched online in streaming video, accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation, by following the link on the Flanders Today website, www.flanderstoday.eu.