Environment and Development: Dissecting the Connections NUPI JUNE 02 5 Jouni Paavola Forum for Development Studies | No. 1-2002 Environment and Develop- ment: Dissecting the Connections 1. Introduction Developmental and environmental goals are often viewed as mu- tually incompatible. Those who focus on development often feel that the pursuit of environmental goals could compromise impor- tant developmental goals, and that developmental goals should have priority. Similarly, those whose main interest is the environment feel that environmental goals warrant priority and postponing or even sacrificing developmental ambitions. Yet, while the environ- ment and development may indeed be in conflict at times, at other times they are not. Growth may well be compatible with, or even necessary for, environmental improvement (WCED, 1987; World Bank, 1992, 2002). However, the possibility that environmental quality may positively contribute to development has not yet been fully acknowledged (but see DFID, 1997:50–52). There probably is more than a grain of truth in all these views on the relationships between environment and development. How- ever, an exclusive reliance on one view or another may mislead efforts and policies related to the environment and development, in developing countries and in the international arena alike. To date, analysis and policy practice have been dominated by views that give priority to development and growth, seeing these as compatible with or necessary for environmental improvement. This article investi- gates the problematic nature of these views by analysing 1) the relationships between trade, environment and development; 2) the Note of acknowledgements . The author wishes to thank the two anonymous reviewers, as well as Neil Adger, Paula Saukko, Neil Summerton and Bhaskar Vira for helpful comments and suggestions on earlier versions of this article. The shortcomings, of course, remain the author’s responsibility.