China's struggle to cope with the environmental consequences of breakneck economic development attracts much attention. Less well understood are the efforts of the country's leaders to pursue a greener future. After the recent benzene slick at Jilin, President Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao, prime minister, publicly admonished those responsible. The environment minister was, in effect, sacked.

This reflects new thinking in the communist party's leadership, which endorsed Mr Hu's decree that science would guide the building of a "harmonious society" and push towards "green" gross domestic product at its annual plenum. Ten provinces are already trying to measure and report on "green GDP", which is at the heart of China's latest five-year plan. It places the top priority on non-wasteful, environmentally friendly growth.