Environmentalism seen as a threat to European competitiveness

Commenting on events at the Davos World Economic Forum, a pro-government analyst thinks that what he calls ‘the advance of green ideology’ is jeopardizing Europe’s competitiveness and the welfare of Europeans.

Commenting on the speeches by US President Trump and Greta Thunberg at Davos on the Mozgástér blog, Zoltán Kiszely writes that Europe will be worse off if it embraces the radical environmentalist ideas advocated, among others, by Greta Thunberg. The conservative political scientist recalls that US President Trump’s free trade ideology is very popular in the US, while in Europe, green ideas are gathering steam. As a result, European companies are becoming reluctant to engage in business that may become subject to environmental criticism, Kiszely contends. As the US and other major players in the world economy, including China, broker free trade deals, European companies are curtailed by environmental considerations, he continues. Kiszely fears that the popularity of green ideas will therefore take a toll on Europe’s competitiveness, and will thus harm the well-being of Europeans.

Tags: climate change, environment, Europe, green, Thunberg