It can feel good to commiserate with co-workers, but maintaining a positive attitude at a time when most people are disgruntled will help you stand out.

To compensate for its lack of economic clout, ECOWAS has learnt to work in tandem with beefier bodies and countries, raising the alarm when it spots danger on the horizon.

The finding contrasts sharply with the widespread image internationally of China as a country of inefficient, carbon-intensive industry that is resisting international calls to curb its emissions.