The use of natural resources globally is heavily unbalanced. The developed nations use an inordinate percentage of the available, or remaining, resources and the need for concerted action is clear, although the steps so far have been tentative at best. If governmental action is slow in coming, then perhaps consumer choice, possibly based on improved education, might be deployed to partially ease the current situation. But how "green" is the consumer and does energy or water conservation sell product in a competitive commercial market place?
There is evidence to suggest that conservation only appeals to a specialist clientele, and there are reports, mostly anecdotal, of the opposite--for example, is the reported sale of used 3.5 U.S. gallon water closets real or merely an amusing after dinner anecdote based on a half remembered Washington Post article?