Heavy palls of industrial smog have almost become the norm in some Chinese cities. Small wonder that environmental sustainability is rapidly moving up the agenda for Xi Jinping, the president, as he flexes his political muscles and consolidates his leadership of China.

The country’s moves to protect the environment and avoid pollution-related social unrest represent a radical shift in Chinese policy. Just eight years ago, China viewed climate change initiatives as a western conspiracy to limit China’s rapid growth.

And it is not just Mr Xi who is prioritising industrial clean-ups — other fast-growing economies are following his lead. While these countries still need industrial materials to fuel their economic growth, they are increasingly seeking less-polluting ways of sourcing and processing these raw materials.