BRUSSELS — The European Union has a new climate dogma: industry before nature.
Nearly five years ago, Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her landmark Green Deal with a vow to make Europe’s businesses climate-friendly. These days, she’s focused on making the bloc’s climate efforts business-friendly.
On the campaign trail, von der Leyen — who is seeking reelection as the European Commission president, overseeing all EU legislation — is now filtering all her climate rhetoric through a sharply focused economic lens.
“We know that there is no competitive economy without climate protection. But there is also no climate protection without competitive companies,” she has said in speech after speech.