- July 2, 2021
- Posted by: Stratford Team
- Category: Economy
“It’s the economy, stupid.” That phrase was coined by James Carville, a political strategist for former US President Bill Clinton in the successful presidential campaign against George Bush Sr.
These days, any political adviser worth their mettle would make sure their candidates spout off “It’s the environment, stupid” as an election slogan at every opportunity.
The question is whether the two are mutually exclusive — or whether economic growth and climate protection are two sides of the same coin.
The first major environmental protection rules hark back to the 1970s. Since then, a debate has raged about their potentially damaging impact on economic growth and competitiveness. One train of thought says countries that adhere less stringently to environmental policies have a production and trade advantage over those nations that are taking climate action measures to reduce emissions. The concern in those countries is that their own emission-heavy…
