Business Quote by Geoff Mulgan
“On the environment and climate change, I suspect that future generations will think there was too much timidity, too much fear of upsetting business. Basically, New Labour was very nervous about regulating business, or requiring it to do anything, even when there was a very clear social or environmental case for doing so.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public interview on climate policy, UK, 2008
Future generations may view current climate inaction as overly cautious and business‑friendly, missing moral urgency.
In simple terms: People think we were too timid about regulating business for climate.
Key Takeaway
Embrace bold, proactive climate policies now.
Themes
environment
politics
business
generational responsibility
courage
Mood
concerned
determined
urgent
Type
political
environmental
inspirational
When to use this quote
- government policy drafting
- corporate sustainability planning
- public advocacy campaigns
Key Concepts
regulatory risk
social responsibility
political economy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we shift political will toward decisive climate action?
- What incentives can align business interests with environmental goals?
A Different Perspective
Balancing economic growth with environmental protection can be politically difficult.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)