Global Competition: The Environmental Dimension

Intensified international competition, at a time of economic downturn and unemployment in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, has stimulated a new debate on the compatibility of environmental policies and economic growth objectives. In spite of concerns and allegations by both economic and environmental interest groups, little convincing empirical evidence is available to validate them. At the same time, fundamental changes in environmental strategies and policy instruments seem likely to raise the profile for conflict within and among nations in the future — unless new "rules of the game" are designed and broadly agreed.