Which statement about climate change and economic growth is false?

• A. Tackling climate change issues is likely only to modestly dent long-term economic growth.
• B. Poorer countries have historically been responsible for the bulk of world carbon emissions because of poor technology and environmental regulations.
• C. Carbon emissions are positively correlated with economic growth.
• D. Air and water quality in developed countries is generally better today than several decades ago.

Answer: (B)

Emissions accumulate over time, so the biggest historical contributors are the economies that industrialized first and relied heavily on fossil fuels. Because of this, historically the bulk of world carbon emissions came from rich, industrialized countries rather than poorer ones. Poorer countries have contributed less cumulatively, though their annual emissions have risen as they grow, but they did not drive the historical totals to the same extent. The idea that poorer nations bear the bulk of emissions because of worse technology and looser regulations misidentifies the main driver and ignores the timing of industrial development and energy use. The other statements align with what we observe: climate action can involve modest long-run costs to growth and carbon emissions tend to rise with economic activity, while air and water quality in developed countries has improved over decades due to regulations and advances in technology.