This work examines in depth the relationship between foreign direct investment and the
environment. Over the last few decades increasing levels of environmental degradation have
been recorded and have been claimed to be particularly attributable to globalization and the
widespread increase of economic activities in particular foreign direct investments (FDIs).
However the environmental implications of FDIs are not easily identified and contradictory
views and arguments have been presented. This work contributes to the debate by closely
analyzing the specific literature produced over the last three decades and by presenting and
discussing recent trends and prospects with regard to the FDI phenomenon.
