Living in China for the past 7 years while at the same time being concerned about (though not taking enough action about) the environment, climate change and the expansion of consumer societies has demonstrated clearly to me that government and business leadership is absolutely essential to create any real change in the way we live and the way we interact with the natural world.  In China there is no leadership of this kind.  A lack of political leadership, inside the government and the repression of it outside government, means there is no infrastructure for civil society to enact change.  Lack of political leadership means there is not the regulatory nor legal systems to force business and commerce to act responsibly or for individuals to take environmental issues through legal channels.  While in some cases this might exist on paper, the lack of leadership and the cancerous growth of corruption caused by lack of leadership, means in reality, it does not exist.  In business, a lack of leadership (and again the presence of corruption) means business is only interested in profit, at all costs, even human costs, leave alone environmental costs.  There are few "green" choices for the consumer to make.  In China I can't choose ethically manufactured clothing, or organic food, or clean energy sources.   My desire to live responsibly and reduce my impact on the natural environment is restricted by the absence of political and business will.

While it is certainly true that I could do more than I currently do to reduce my impact, it is also true that for genuine change to happen around the world, governments and business have to take the lead.  Individuals can make a difference, but it seems too many individuals (myself included) don't care, are too concerned with getting by or are simply too lazy to actually do anything. However, when gently nudged, not forced, into action, by the right government incentives, by intelligent legislation, by innovative marketing and creative products, people can change and their will to change can grow.  I see glimpses of this leadership emerging in developed nations.  However,  to start getting similar leadership in China and other developing nations, which for all its rapid economic expansion, is still a relatively poor country, governments and businesses in the developed world have to demonstrate far more leadership on these issues than has been demonstrated so far.  We need bold, brave and innovative leadership to drive real change.  With examples of bold leadership on the great environmental and societal challenges of our time we will start to see governments and businesses in the developing world taking up the challenge and providing real leadership.