Economic Growth vs Cutting Emissions - Why One or The Other?

This Engineering News article tells us how our government has made it clear that they "would not accept a formal cap, despite acknowledging the country's contribution to carbon emissions and the potential opportunities presented by science in pursuance of a low-carbon future." as this could be a threat to the growth of our economy. On the same day, this Engineering News article reports on how the Swedish government is successfully cutting its emissions while simultaneously growing their economy, saying "It's a balance". In the former article, Richard Worthington is quoted as saying "There needs to be a mindset change in government where the primary objective is not economic growth alone, but rather sustainable development, which is synergistic with low-carbon development". In another Engineering News article, Scania urges SA to introduce more stringent emissions standards, specifically speaking about the introduction of ethanol buses.