Economic impact of green technologies questioned

摘要

Is the promise of environmental technology being oversold? Can it boost the economy, increase trade, spur industrial competitiveness, and create a clean environment? In some cases the answer may be yes, says Paul R. Portney, an economist and vice-president of Resources for the Future and a long-time decoder of the twists and turns in environmental regulations, technology, and profits. But some of the claims are "dead wrong," Portney said in a speech to the Second Annual Conference on the Environment, the Economy, and World Trade held in Durham, NC, November 15. The conference brought together some 150 environmental technology scientists, developers, and marketers for two days of discussions about the future of this growing field.