From Crystal Palace in London to Seed Cathedral at Expo
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"UK was sharing its vision of the future at that time, a world in which economic development would be driven by heavy industry. Not a vision of doom and gloom but a vision of hope and prosperity," commented Probert.
But the doom and gloom did come to Britain when its environment was overburden by industries, reducing the famous Thames River into a sewage over a long period. The British people realized the problem and turned to a green path for development, and its new national pavilion Seed Cathedral at the Shanghai Expo has embodied such a fundamental change.
"The lessons we have learnt mean that we can once again (in the World Expo) demonstrate leadership and innovation in how the world can adapt to the environmental consequences of economic development", said Probert.
Yes, at the Shanghai World Expo, Britain shows its "green and pleasant urban landscape" in two walkways just besides the Seed Cathedral. Britons are proud again, saying in their Expo website that London is 40 percent green, "making it the greenest city of its size in the world."
Britain, the old industrial empire, now is pioneering in some green areas, including measures against climate change. It led in passing a Climate Change Act and publishing a national strategy of Low Carbon Transition. It has promised a much bigger carbon emission cut than many other developed countries.
Britain's Foreign & Commonwealth Office at the expo told Xinhua that "We have moved from a new industrial age to one where we must use technology and innovation to protect nature and work with it."
The change of Britain comes as the whole world has changed.
In the first World Expo, people focused on industrial products and natural resources. Besides machines, there are monster specimens of coal that weighed more than 20 tons. But now the earth is on the verge of overburden, and countries are displaying what's green and energy efficient.
In the Shanghai Expo, the United States also said its pavilion is built with environment-friendly materials; Russia opened a future energy corner in its pavilion; and China has presented a number of electric or biofueled vehicles.
Dr.David Tyfield is an expert on low carbon in the Lancaster University, Britain. He went to the Shanghai Expo just for releasing a report about low carbon transition in the world.
"The important point is that China cannot simply repeat the processes of (British) economic development, with major pollution being followed only at a later date by cleaning up", he said.
He said he believed that the developing countries could directly adapt to a green economy and even take a lead in the transition.
One and a half century ago, the Crystal Palace's glory urged the world to catch up with the industrial age. Now the Seed Cathedral, together with other environmental-friendly pavilions at the Shanghai Expo, are ushering in a new age of green.
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