Compatible or contradictory? The challenge of inclusive structural economic and environmental transformation

How do we reconcile economic development with the consequences of exploitative natural resources use, and at the same time address poverty and inequality? 

This paper sets out to explore current evidence and debate on structural economic transformation and environmental (green) transformation in relation to the eradication of poverty. Its aim is to identify areas of contradiction between economic development - with the consequences of exploitative natural resources use - and poverty and inequality, and also (potential) areas of compatibility.

These areas of compatibility offer potential gains in all areas at once, and therefore have the attractiveness of win-win solutions. On the other hand, the contradictions highlight potential trade-offs that will require resolution.

Authors: Anna Mdee, Richard Emmott and Alberto Lemma

Click here to download the paper

This paper was possible thanks to the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.