It's reassuring that the policymakers charged with making sure the world avoids ecological catastrophe are getting advice from scientists like Bob Watson. Watson is Defra's chief scientific advisor, before that did the same job at the World Bank was also chair of the International Panel on Climate Change. But his slightly chaotic, mad-scientist style of presentation here at Civil Service Live belied his formidable academic credentials. In a whirlwind session, he moved from predictions on the global impact of climate change, to ideas on poverty reduction, to water security and loft insulation. Amid all the worrying predictions and policy prescriptions, politicians and officials would do well to bear in mind his message on the importance of governmental leadership. Put simply, the problem (or multitude of problems) won't be insolved simply by either 'incentivising' business, or hoping that citizen behaviour changes. "The key to success, whether it's mitigating the effects of climate change or adapting to it, is good governance," Watson said. No wonder George Bush didn't like him.