Discuss the impact of tougher environmental regulations on businesses, citing examples whenever possible. Also, point out opportunities, if any, presented by these regulations

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Environmental regulations adversely affect certain industries. They increase the cost of production for a range of industries. For instance, steel manufacturing units and firms which generate electricity are required to install pollution control equipments. Automobile companies are required to develop and use cleaner technology in their vehicles. However, businesses can also achieve significant savings in their energy and gas bills by moving to environmentally friendly ways to heat or cool their offices and run their manufacturing facilities. A shift to paper-less communication can cut costs and pollution. Plus, new business opportunities are opening up in the "green" sectors as is evident in the companies that manufacture and sell emission-control equipment and sell services to help companies adopt environmentally-friendly practices.