This book analyses recent developments in international sustainable development law (ISDL), a field emerging at the intersection between international economic, environmental, and social law. Hundreds of new bi-lateral, regional, and global treaties have been negotiated in the areas of trade, environment, and development over the past two decades, yet most of them face profound problems in implementation. At the same time, disputes over human rights, environmental protection, and economic development are increasingly common. This book provides a long-awaited coherent approach which can address conflicts and overlaps between international economic, environmental, and social law. It surveys the international law related to sustainable development; discussing proposed principles, offering case studies that examine innovative aspects of key international instruments, and reflecting on future legal research agendas.

Part I (Foundations) surveys the origins of the concept of sustainable development, identifying and discussing the foundations of its legal aspects. It also analyses the main results of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. Part II (Principles) examines the emerging principles of international law related to sustainable development, based on the International Law Association's New Delhi Declaration. Part III (Practices) provides case studies of legal instruments and regimes that integrate economic, social, and environmental aspects, illustrating the challenges and innovative methodologies of recent years. Part IV (Prospects) proposes cutting-edge research agendas in six priority areas of intersection between international social, economic, and environmental law, and examines the new international architecture of sustainable development governance in light of the outcomes of the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development.

Sustainable Development Law is a guide, resource, and reference for scholars, policy-makers, negotiators, and practitioners, and provides students of social, economic, and environmental law with a coherent introduction to the newly emerging law of international sustainable development.