What is more important,economicc growth or the environment?Why?

Some people believe that economic growth should never be at the cost of the environment.They think serious environment all problems nowadays are largely caused by rapid economiccgrowth.For example,deserts are spreading,because of over grazing,poor farming and tree cutting.Our air and wate rsuppliessare also being polluted by poisonous gases and waste. However,other people think it unnecessary to take environmental problems now into serious consideration,for our priority should go to economiccgrowth.They believe that environmental problems are unavoidable in the process of economic growth.They are the by-products of economic growth,which can be dealt with later.