The Green Illusion

Filed in archive Opinions & Insights on October 3, 2009

© seier+seier+seier

In a recent article, Business Green magazine questions the west's asserted reduction in greenhouse gases, citing the fact that manufacturing (a large cause of such emissions) has moved from western countries, such as the US and UK to developing nations such as China.

This makes some logical sense, as countries such as China not only offer less expensive labor, but also weak or poorly enforced environmental regulation. At the very least, certification authorities that recognize "green companies" should take production sources into account when establishing and awarding their certifications.

"Out of sight, out of mind" may not be the best standard for environmental policy-particularly since these problems tend to show up... eventually.