Pollution and Businesses?

Question

How does government regulation of pollution and environmental issues impact business?

Answer 1

Businesses often pollute way more than they could because it is immediately easier and cheaper to do it that way, but regulations set by the government can cause companies to have to increase their efficiency and go "green", which in the end, can cause production to be cheaper.

Answer 2

Every regulation the government passes cost businesses more. Going green always costs more.

At times it makes it almost impossible for companies in heavily regulated countries like the US to compete world wide. It is also a big reason for manufacturing companies to move production out of the US.

I'm not saying its the wrong thing to do. What I am saying is that it costs us a lot more than we think.