Gao is on the front lines of the conflict between economic development and the environment.

NPR: Some Economies Suffer As Beijing Cleans Up Air

Keith Crane is director of the RAND Environment, Energy, and Economic Development Program as well as a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School.

WSJ: The Experts: Should There Be a Price on Carbon Emissions?

Deputy Carolyn Labey, assistant minister for economic development and the department of the environment, said the initiatives would help the island.

BBC: Environmental grants offered to Jersey people and firms

What does it entail: It requires a change of mindset to bring about full integration of the needs for economic and social development with that to conserve the environment.

FORBES: Is JPMorgan Chase America's New Bad Bank?

It found that the main drivers for countries to deploy renewable energy are to improve energy security, encourage economic development, and to protect the climate and the environment from the impacts of fossil fuel use.

FORBES: International Energy Agency (Finally) Acknowledges Ascent of Renewable Energy Market

In an opinion survey, 31% of respondents thought economic development should be his top priority (just 1.2% named the environment).

CNN: Clean and Creative

Ecology and Environment Inc. was hired in 2011 to do an economic analysis of how shale gas development would affect the state.

WSJ: NY groups claim industry bias in fracking study