The correct answer to this open question is the following.
Although there are no options attached we can say the following.
It is claimed that, while dealing with environmental problems, “no politician will sacrifice short-term economic welfare”. What does this mean?
This means that today's politicians will always favor money over the protection of the environment. These politicians are short-sighted and do not consider the short and long-time effects of the destruction of the environment. Money is what they value the most.
If this is true for politicians, what can be the implications of this attitude for our environment?
The consequences can be seen in this very moment. We just have to watch the news. Climate change, global warming, large fires over California, extreme cold weather during the weather. What about the power crisis in Texas due to the frozen weather last winter?
These and many other evident consequences have more expensive costs for politicians and governments. But they cannot foresee the consequences because they are so immersed in satisfying the political and economic agendas of large private corporations that produce money.