The US economy is likely a major factor, King notes. "The recession's impact trumps all other factors," King says. Demand for green building had been growing, and likely would have become a standard but for the economic decline. Now, "it isn't that green building has slowed, but rather that green building is fully dependent on the level of activity in the greater construction economy."

Not surprisingly, than, energy efficiency was the most important for all countries. But coming second for respondents from China was air and water pollution, while US, UK and Hong Kong respondents cited transport issues as their second most important issue.

Fatigue may be another factor. "It is not unexpected that attention has eventually moved away from climate change issues," King observes. "We have had several years of strong media interest and coverage of the subject, and both business and media attention tosubjects tend to be bubbles of interest, which eventually fade."

Also a factor is strong marketing on the part of US energy producers to redirect the conversation from the need for conservation and alternative sources to their effects on jobs, trade and economic growth.

"These aren't people who are just going to roll over," King says. "This is a decades-old struggle between the energy industry and the environment," noting that renewable energy is expensive and requires a lengthy payback period. "Organizations will not embrace clean energy technologies that do not offer cost advantages; the recession has reinforced this."

Manufacturers benefited from the early enthusiasm for sustainable technologies, even selling products at a premium. Now, however, cost is king, and smart companies can and will adjust, King adds.

"That's what innovation is," King says. "I do believe we're on the road to that. What we need is regulation if we want to eliminate the really inefficient equipment."