--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Contrary to popular belief, we do not…" description: "\"Contrary to popular belief, we do not face a choice between economy and ecology, It is often said that protecting the environment would constrain or ev..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/kofi-annan-799_able_contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-fac_100532.png" --- # Contrary to popular belief, we do not face a choice… ![“Contrary to popular belief, we do not face a choice between economy and ecology, It is often said that protecting the environment would constrain or even undermine economic growth. In fact, the opposite is true: unless we protect resources and the earth's natural capital, we shall not be able to…” quote by Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/kofi-annan-799_able_contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-fac_100532.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/kofi-annan-799_able_contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-fac_100532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/kofi-annan-799_able_contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-fac_100532.png) > “Contrary to popular belief, we do not face a choice between economy and ecology, It is often said that protecting the environment would constrain or even undermine economic growth. In fact, the opposite is true: unless we protect resources and the earth's natural capital, we shall not be able to sustain economic growth.” [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic prosperity depends on healthy ecosystems; degrading natural capital ultimately undermines growth. **In simple terms:** Protect nature to sustain the economy. Key Takeaway Ecology is foundational to long‑term economic stability. Themes sustainability economics environment resource management Mood urgent optimistic Type policy ethical When to use this quote - policy making - corporate strategy - investment decisions Key Concepts natural capital theory externalities Practical Applications - Integrate ecosystem services valuation into budgeting - Adopt circular‑economy practices Questions to Reflect On - How can businesses quantify nature’s contribution to profit? - What incentives could align profit with planetary health? A Different Perspective Short‑term economic pressures can make environmental protection politically difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Contrary to popular belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contrary-to-popular-belief/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Ecology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ecology/) [Economic growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-growth/) [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Protecting The Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protecting-the-environment/) ## Related quotes > [The message I am trying to get across is exactly this: Protecting the environment does not require us to be against large SUVs or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/the-message-i-am-trying-to-get-across-is-exactly-this-protecting-the/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [I have a very positive attitude to anyone who is protecting the environment, but it's inadmissible when people are using it as a means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/i-have-a-very-positive-attitude-to-anyone-who-is-protecting-the/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [These are the same people who believe, in some cases, the federal government should not play any role in providing health care to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/these-are-the-same-people-who-believe-in-some-cases-the-federal/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [To be human is to care for your fellow human beings and protecting the environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/to-be-human-is-to-care-for-your-fellow-human-beings-and-protecting/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [If we are really serious about protecting the environment, the discharge pipes and stacks of industry would all plug directly into their intake side,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-jackson/if-we-are-really-serious-about-protecting-the-environment-the/) [Wes Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-jackson/) > [The environment is everything that makes up our surroundings and affects our ability to live on the earth - the air we breathe, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/the-environment-is-everything-that-makes-up-our-surroundings-and-2/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [No longer will we allow the infrastructure of our magnificent country to crumble and decay. While protecting the environment, we will build gleaming new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/no-longer-will-we-allow-the-infrastructure-of-our-magnificent-country/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The way to build a strong future is by both protecting the environment and creating good jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-trudeau/the-way-to-build-a-strong-future-is-by-both-protecting-the/) [Justin Trudeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-trudeau/) > [I think the Sierra Club is the environmental group that has the best chance of really accomplishing things. It's well known, and it actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-scholz/i-think-the-sierra-club-is-the-environmental-group-that-has-the-best/) [Tom Scholz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-scholz/) > [We're not protecting the environment for the sake of the fishes and the birds. We're protecting it for our own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-f-kennedy-jr/we-re-not-protecting-the-environment-for-the-sake-of-the-fishes-and/) [Robert F. Kennedy, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-f-kennedy-jr/) > [Protecting the environment is really important to everyone's welfare - that of our children, as well as that of the future generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/protecting-the-environment-is-really-important-to-everyone-s-welfare/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [Protecting the environment is just as important a priority as the economic imperatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/protecting-the-environment-is-just-as-important-a-priority-as-the/) [Albert II, Prince of Monaco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ii-prince-of-monaco/) > [Whatever the short term clashes between protecting the environment and eradicating poverty, medium term and long term it is clear. Unless we grow sustainably,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-blair/whatever-the-short-term-clashes-between-protecting-the-environment/) [Tony Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-blair/) > [My role is not to choose between safeguarding the economy and protecting the environment - it's about doing both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-hoon/my-role-is-not-to-choose-between-safeguarding-the-economy-and/) [Geoff Hoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-hoon/) > [You would have thought that our first priority would be to ask what the ecologists are finding out, because we have to live within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/you-would-have-thought-that-our-first-priority-would-be-to-ask-what/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) ## More by Kofi Annan > [All our efforts to defeat poverty and pursue sustainable development will be in vain if environmental degradation and natural resource depletion continue unabated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/all-our-efforts-to-defeat-poverty-and-pursue-sustainable-development/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [UN peacekeeping operations are now increasingly complex and multi-dimensional, going beyond monitoring a ceasefire to actually bringing failed States back to life, often after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/un-peacekeeping-operations-are-now-increasingly-complex-and-multi/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-were-all-children-once-and-we-all-share-the-desire-for-the-well/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [You will recall that for months after 9/11, there was incredible support and sympathy for the US. I really hoped and wished they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/you-will-recall-that-for-months-after-9-11-there-was-incredible/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [A nation has the right to defend itself, but when it comes to the broader issue of peace and security, the legitimacy rests only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/a-nation-has-the-right-to-defend-itself-but-when-it-comes-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Some have suggested that ideally there must be some international body that would treat areas like the Arctic as a global commerce, a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/some-have-suggested-that-ideally-there-must-be-some-international/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [In an age of interdependence, global citizenship - based on trust and sense of shared responsibility - is a crucial pillar of progress. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/in-an-age-of-interdependence-global-citizenship-based-on-trust-and/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [We knew the Syrian situation was complex and there were lots of divisions, particularly on the side of the opposition... This is a tough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/we-knew-the-syrian-situation-was-complex-and-there-were-lots-of/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The question is the morning after. What sort of Iraq do we wake up to after the bombing? What happens in the region? What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-question-is-the-morning-after-what-sort-of-iraq-do-we-wake-up-to/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [I laugh a lot inside and outside, and at myself sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/i-laugh-a-lot-inside-and-outside-and-at-myself-sometimes/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Can the state, which represents the whole of society and has the duty of protecting society, fulfill that duty by lowering itself to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/can-the-state-which-represents-the-whole-of-society-and-has-the-duty/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [As long as inequality and other social problems plague us, populists will try to exploit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/as-long-as-inequality-and-other-social-problems-plague-us-populists/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [Developing and newer democracies are much more susceptible to the tactics of populists and demagogues - they often do not have strong institutions, free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/developing-and-newer-democracies-are-much-more-susceptible-to-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [The young and dynamic and idealistic people in the square do not have the chance to organise themselves politically, to be able to follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/the-young-and-dynamic-and-idealistic-people-in-the-square-do-not-have/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) [Explore all 366 Kofi Annan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Contrary to popular belief, we do not face a choice between economy and ecology, It is often said that protecting the environment would constrain or even undermine economic growth. In fact, the opposite is true: unless we protect resources and the earth's natural capital, we shall not be able to sustain economic growth.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kofi Annan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-face-a-choice-between-economy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-face-a-choice-between-economy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/kofi-annan-799_able_contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-fac_100532.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/kofi-annan-799_able_contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-fac_100532.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e56/kofi-annan-799_able_contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-fac_100532.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Contrary to popular belief, we do not face a choice between economy and ecology, It is often said that…” — Kofi Annan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kofi Annan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Contrary to popular belief, we do...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-face-a-choice-between-economy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/contrary-to-popular-belief-we-do-not-face-a-choice-between-economy/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```