Possible Topic Sentences:

Mutually exclusive:
1. Muchofourpresenteconomicgrowthremainsdrivenbytheuseofpollutingenergysourcessuchas
fossil fuels and it is impractical or unfeasible for many countries to carry out environmental
protectionpoliciesthatmayimpedeattemptstoprovideadequateemployment,attractinvestmentsor
alleviatepoverty.
2. Economicgrowthinmostcountriestodayisbaseduponconsumption,makingthedepletionofnon
renewable resources such as water or endangered fish stocks and the subsequent environmental
damageinevitable.
3. Rapid industrialization serves as a keystrategy toreduce poverty,raise employment andcreate
nationalwealthinanincreasingnumberofdevelopingcountries,makingthereductionordestruction
ofnaturalhabitatsandanimalbiodiversityaregrettablebutunavoidablecostofeconomicgrowth.
4. Globally,manygovernmentsdependonthebusinessandwealthgeneratedbypowerfulcorporations
todriveeconomicgrowth,therebyraisingtheincentiveformanytoreduceregulationoroverlook
irregularitiesrelatingtoenvironmentalprotection.
Can co-exist:
1. Improvementsintechnologyincreasinglybalanceeconomicgrowthwithdependencyonpolluting
energysourcesandreplacingthemtosomedegreewithalternativesourcesofcleanenergy.
2. Thepresentconsumptioncyclecanbeadaptedtoamoreenvironmentallyfriendlyyetprofitableone
whenbothproducersandconsumersdedicatethemselvestoethicalconsumptionandmake,buyand
usegoodsthathavelessimpactontheenvironment.
3. Economicgrowthcanbepursuedbydevelopingindustriesorsectorswhichsustainnaturalhabitats
and animal diversity, such as ecotourism and governmentregulated logging, making their co
existenceafactratherthanwishfulthinking.
4. Increasingly, governments and corporations recognize that investing more into environmental
protectionandregulationhelpswinpublicgoodwillandincreasesbusinessopportunities,makingthe
balancingofeconomicgrowthwithenvironmentalissuesamorefrequentoccurrence.

Sample Essay:
Somepeoplebelievethatbotheconomicgrowthandenvironmentconcernscannotcoexistpeacefully.In
ordertoimproveeitherofthetwoaspects,onehastobecompromisedupon.Despiteso,Ibelievethat
economicgrowthandtheenvironmentcancoexistaswitheconomicgrowth,technologycanbeimproved
andalternatesourcesofenergycanbeharness,thusreducingcarbonemissionfromburningoffossilfuel
andIfeelhopefulthatenvironmentconcernandeconomicgrowthwillcoexistastimeprogress.
Firstofall,therelationshipbetweeneconomicgrowthandenvironmentalconcern.Witheconomicgrowth,it
wouldcauseadvancementintechnologyandassuch,cleanenergycanbedevelopedintoamorereliableand
bettersourceofenergyandhence,theenvironmentwouldbeenrichedoncemore.Germany,adeveloped
countryisthe4thlargestintheworldthathasanEPI(EnvironmentalPerformanceIndex)ranked6 thinthe
world,whereitrankshowwellcountriesperformonhighpriorityenvironmentalissuesintwobroadpolicy
areas:protectionofhumanhealthfromenvironmentalharmandprotectionofecosystems.Thisisdueto
themusingalternatesourceofenergysuchaswindenergy.Thisshowsthatevenwitheconomicgrowth,
environmental issues would not be overlook and can coexist with each other. Hence, I disagree that
economicgrowthandenvironmentalconcerncannotcoexist.
Next,jobopportunities.Jobopportunitieshavebeencreatedduetoenvironmentalissuesanditisanew
industry.Thiscanbeintheformofwildliferangerorevenhealth,safety,securityandenvironmental
officer.Assuch,therewouldbehigheremployment,whichwouldleadtoamoreproductiveworkforceand
resourcesaremorefullyutilizedduetolowerunemployment,thiswouldthenleadtoeconomicgrowth.As
such,itcanbeseenthatenvironmentalconcernandeconomicgrowthcanactuallyworkhandinhand,
complementing each other. Thus I disagree that economic growth and environmental concern cannot
coexist.
However,itisapointtonotethatifalternativesourceofenergyisnotproperlymanaged,itwouldleadto
detrimental effect to the environment, which is far from its initial intended purpose, helping the
environment.TheJapannuclearmeltdownin2011hasshowedustheextentoftheeffects,wheremutation
andcancerhaveaffectedthecitizensnearit.Notonlythat,plantsandfisheswerealsoaffected.Notonly
that,largeeconomiesareunwillingtosloweconomicgrowth,andsomeevenwereaccusedoftryingto
cheattheirwayoutofreducingtheirgreenhousegasemissionsbycreatingdishonestforestryaccounting
loopholes.Chinaforexamplehasattainedhighlevelofeconomicgrowth.Inspiteofthis,airpollutionin
Chinais20timesthesafelimit.Thisleadtohealthproblemssuchaslungcancerandevenhighrateof
infantmortality.Skindiseaseswillalsobecausedbyacidrain.Thisshowsthatenvironmentalconcernand
economicgrowthcannotcoexist.
Toconclude,Iwouldstillbefirmwithmystandthatenvironmentalconcernaswellaseconomicgrowthcan
coexist.Howeverthiswouldnotbepossibleasofnow,sincecountriesareunwillingtoslowgrowthandis
reapinggrowthattheexpenseoftheenvironment.Despiteso,witheconomicgrowth,itcanbringabout
technologicaladvancement,whichcanhelptheenvironmentwithalternativesourceofenergy.Notonly
that, the environment brought about industries, which can help growth Hence I believe that if the
government are willing to help, with good and effective policies, economic growth and environmental
concerncancoexistinthenearfuture.