China

China often gets a bad rap.

In the process of holding together a country of over one billion individuals the rights of those individuals sometimes play second fiddle 'for the greater good'.

There's also less consultation by the state. If it believes something is a good idea then there's a good chance of it happening (and quickly).

Whilst on a visit there a city was in the process of banning small motorcycles from roads in a bid to cut pollution. There was no debate, people were expected to give up their motorcycles and the state would give them a new electric motorcycle. Whole communities are also told when and where they will be moved to make way for large dam projects.

Some argue China needs to attach more importance to the rights of the individual, then again some states find themselves under fire for championing the rights of the individuals to the other extreme (at the expense of wider society).

One positive outcome of the speed with which China can turn policy into action is their record on renewable energy. At one stage China was building one coal fired power station per week. China clearly sees a sustainable future needs to be built on something other than fossil fuels, and the evidence is - in this regard - that China's actions speak louder than the fine words used by many western governments.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7535839.stm

China is of course due to overtake the US as the worlds largest polluter. This could change in future if China stays the renewable course.

There's nothing more that makes western governments happier with themselves than to criticise the conduct of other countries. Communication is a two way street, and if China stays the renewable course then it is entirely right that China give the rest of the world a kick up the renewable backside. If China can raise their game they so can (and should) the rest of the world.

China could be setting an uncomfortable precedent in terms of its pace of change. Perhaps the west might be a touch more apprehensive about its criticism in future.