Jump to the next navigation bar : Jump to the page contents
About Globalex

Sustainable Development Law (SDL) Research Guide

 

By Gary Yessin

 

Gary Yessin is the Reference Librarian at Florida A&M University College of Law in Orlando, Florida.  He has a J.D. from Stanford Law School, an M.S. in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University, and a B.A. in English (Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Florida. 

 

Published September 2006

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Monographs

Treaties and Agreements

Journals

Academic Programs

Organizations and Websites

Abbreviations

 

Introduction

Historically, sustainable development law literature has often focused on environmental issues in developed countries.  In the last several years, the field of Sustainable Development Law has shifted, to an integration of international economic, social, and environmental law with the goal of reducing poverty in developing nations.  Still, one of the major issues in this area is whether "sustainable development" is law, soft law, or policy.  

 

Sustainable development law: principles, practices, and prospects (Segger and Khalfan, 2004) provides the best introduction to the emerging field of Sustainable Development Law (SDL).  It is quite idealistic, which reflects the often aspirational nature of the field.  I will provide an extended introduction to the topic through highlights and excerpts from this book.

 

Monographs

Sustainable development law:  principles, practices, and prospects

Segger, Marie-Claire Cordonier, 1973-; Khalfan, Ashfaq. 

New York: Oxford University Press, 2004;  464 p.  

 

See the Table of Contents and other publisher information.  Marie-Claire Cordonier Segger is the leading figure in the field of SDL.  Not only is she a prolific author, but she has had a lot to do with the emergence of sustainable development law as a vital field of international and anti-poverty law.  The Foreword of this book, by H.E. Judge Christopher G. Weeramantry, Former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice, contains the 1987 Brundtland Report definition of sustainable development - "development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."  (ix)

 

The first chapter discusses the origins of the Sustainable Development concept, and the next one is dedicated to the "Results of the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development," reporting that there were 45,000 participants, including over 100 heads of state, in Johannesburg.  The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, a 3 page document with 6 sections, reaffirms a commitment to sustainable development and building a humane, equitable and caring global society.  It emphasizes the three pillars of sustainable development at all levels and a common resolve to eradicate poverty, change consumption and production patterns, and protect and manage the natural resource base.   

 

The book summarizes the 62 pages of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI),  as well as the New Delhi Declaration of Principles (see another text only version of the New Delhi Declaration of Principles).

 

The final section of this book, focused on 'the prospects' for sustainable development law, provides proposals for a future legal research agenda.  In essence, it proposes "further directions for legal research by those interested in advancing the understanding, development and implementation of international sustainable development law." (p. 278).

 

It deals with six areas of focus, where "sustainable development principles may be particularly relevant, and new instruments are being developed and tested" (p. 278).

 

As a conclusion, "[S]ustainable development law is both an emerging body of legal principles and instruments, as well as an 'interstitial norm,' a concept that serves to reconcile conflicting environmental, social and economic development norms in international law, in the interest of present and future generations."  (p. 365)

 

International law and policy of sustainable development

French, Duncan.  Manchester University Press, 2005;  218 p. See the Table of Contents and other publisher information.

 

The concluding comment of the book is that "It is only through law and policy pulling in the same direction that the chances of  achieving sustainable development will be improved . . . [quoting L. Fernando] -  'Ultimately, our views about sustainable development are expressions of our positions on ethics, morality, and social justice and of our commitment to political  strategies to realize them.'  To this, one must simply add that for such political strategies to be truly effective, they must also incorporate, and not marginalize, the role of international law in promoting global sustainable development."

 

International law and sustainable development:  principles and practice

Schrijver, Nico,; Weiss, Friedl,

Leiden; Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2004;  714 p. See the Table of Contents and other publisher information.

 

Sustainable justice:  reconciling economic, social, and environmental law

Segger, Marie-Claire Cordonier; Weeramantry, C. G.

Leiden; Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 2005;  598 p.  See the Table of Contents and other publisher information.

 

Sustainable development in world trade law 

Gehring, Markus W.; Segger, Marie-Claire Cordonier,

The Hague: Kluwer Law International; Frederick, MD: Sold and distributed in North, Central and South America by Aspen Publishers, 2005; 735 p.  See the Table of Contents and other publisher information.

 

International economic law with a human face

Weiss, Friedl; Denters, Erik.

The Hague; Cambridge, MA: Kluwer Law International, 1998;  566 p. See the Table of Contents and other publisher information.

 

Beyond the barricades: the Americas trade and sustainable development agenda

Segger, Marie-Claire Cordonier; Reynal, Maria Leichner.

Aldershot, Hants, England; Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2005;  351 p.    See the Table of Contents and other publisher information.

 

Regulating international business:  beyond liberalization

Picciotto, Sol.; Mayne, Ruth

St. Martin's Press, 1999;  277 p.   See the Table of Contents and other publisher information.

 

Sustainable development and good governance

Ginther, Konrad

M. Nijhoff; Sold and distributed in the U.S.A. and Canada by Kluwer Academic    

Publishers; 1995; 483 p.  The Table of Contents is not available online so I'll reproduce it here:

 

CONTENTS [ESSAYS]:

  • Sustainable development as a matter of good governance: an introductory view
  • Evolving principles of sustainable development and good governance
  • Sustainable development: some critical thoughts in the light of the Rio Conference
  • The road to sustainable development: evolution of the concept of development in the UN
  • Reflections on the term 'sustainable development' and its institutional implications
  • The dynamics of sovereignty in a changing world
  • How to manage sustainable development?
  • Governance and sustainable development in Africa
  • Implementation of international sustainability imperatives at a national level
  • Good governance through popular participation in sustainable development
  • Sustainable development and good governance: development and evolution of  constitutional orders
  • Constitutional orders and sustainable development: the Southern African experience and  prospects
  • Procedural aspects of international law in the field of sustainable development: citizens' rights
  • The right of participation in development projects
  • Popular participation: a precondition for sustainable development planning. The experiences in Uganda
  • The right to self-determination from a sustainable development perspective
  • European Community development cooperation, human rights, democracy and good governance: at odds or at ease with each other?
  • Implications of the principle of sustainable development, human rights and good governance for the GATT/WTO
  • Conditionality, human rights and good governance: a dialogue of unequal partners
  • Good governance and development cooperation: towards a global approach
  • Common but differentiated state responsibility in international environmental law: from Stockholm (1972) to Rio (1992)
  • Good governance, accountability, and official development cooperation: analyzing OECD-demands at the example of the IBRD
  • Setting off distributory shortcomings
  • Sustainable development and good governance: the transition to a steady-state economy
  • The GATT 1994: environmental sustainability of trade or environmental protection sustainable by trade?
  • Combating corruption: a measure for shaping decision making in order to achieve sustainable development
  • Sustainable development, human rights and good governance - a case study of India's Narmada Dam
  • Sustainable development as a matter of good governance - the case of the Amazon forest in Brazil

 

Treaties and Agreements

(From "Table of major treaties and other documents,"

International law and policy of sustainable development, French, 2005)

 

1945

  • Charter of the United Nations, 1 UNTS xiv: 68
  • Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, 2 UNTS 39: 39, 196
  • Articles of Agreement of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2 UNTS 134: 184

 

1946

  • International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 161 UNTS 72: 38, 60, 126, 127

 

1947

  • General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade ('GATT 1947'), 55 UNTS 194

 

1948

 

1957

  • Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community ('Treaty of Rome'), 298 UNTS 11: 39, 42, 56

 

1958

  • Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas, 559 UNTS 285: 38

 

1960

  • Founding Convention of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development ('OECD Convention'), 888 UNTS 179: 39

 

1966

 

1969

  • Convention on the Law of Treaties ('1969 Vienna Convention'), 8 ILM (1969) 679: 44

 

1972

 

1973

  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 993 UNTS 243: 119, 125, 127, 140

 

1974

 

1982

  • United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 21 ILM (1982) 1261: 38

 

1986

 

1990

  • Agreement establishing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 29 ILM (1990) 1077: 41, 182, 210

 

1992

  • Treaty on European Union ('Maastricht Treaty'), 31 ILM (1992) 247: 39, 42
  • North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), 32 ILM (1993) 289 and 605: 42, 183, 206
  • Convention on Biological Diversity ('Biodiversity Convention'), 31 ILM (1992) 822: 8, 17, 38-39, 56, 57, 59, 66, 115, 130-132, 134-138, 141-142, 146-149, 158, 207
  • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change ('Climate Change Convention'), 31 ILM (1992) 849: 8, 17, 30, 41, 52, 56, 57, 59, 60, 62, 66, 76-77, 80-82, 92-93, 95-96, 98, 140
  • Declaration on Environment and Development ('Rio Declaration'), UN Doc. A/CONF.151/26/REV.1, Vol. 1, 12 August 1992: 18, 29, 31, 41, 46, 47, 52, 54-55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 88-89, 93, 173-174
  • Agenda 21, UN Doc. A/CONF.151/26/REV.1, Vol. 1, 12 August 1992: 18, 19, 22, 31, 32, 53, 56, 122, 173, 175-176
  • Establishment of the Commission on Sustainable Development, GA Res. 47/191, 29 January 1993: 19

 

1994

  • Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization ('Marrakech Agreement'), 33 ILM (1994) 15: 42, 44, 199, 201
  • Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), 33 ILM (1194) 81: 138, 199
  • UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa ('Desertification Convention'), 33 ILM (1994) 1328: 42, 57, 68, 120, 140

 

1997

  • Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change ('Kyoto Protocol'), 37 ILM (1998) 22: 43, 70, 77-80, 81, 82, 96, 104-105

 

2000

 

2001

  • Doha Ministerial Declaration, WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, 20 November 2001: 163, 200, 201, 205-207, 210

 

2002

 

Journals

 

Academic Programs

 

Organizations and Websites

Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL)

"The mission of the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) is to promote sustainable societies and the protection of ecosystems by advancing the under-standing, development and implementation of international sustainable development law.

 

The CISDL is engaged in six primary areas of sustainable development law research, each of which is led by a CISDL Lead Counsel based at a developing or developed country law faculty or international organisation. These include:

 

International Law Association (ILA) - International Law on Sustainable Development Committee

 

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

 

UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)

 

International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD)

 

World Bank - Topics in Development

Major Topics include:

        Law and Justice

        Millennium Development Goals

        Poverty (PovertyNet)

        Sustainable Development

 

International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)

"Bridging the Trade and Sustainable Development Communities"

 

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

 

Global Development Initiative - Carter Center

 

Abbreviations

ACP                      African, Caribbean and Pacific group of States

ASEAN                Association of South East Asian Nations

CBD                     1992 Convention on Biological Diversity

CDF                      Comprehensive Development Framework

CISDL                 Centre for International Sustainable Development Law

COMESA            Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

CSD                      Commission on Sustainable Development

EBRD                  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EC                         European Community

ECOWAS            Economic Community of West African States

EIA                       Environmental Impact Assessment

EU                        European Union

FAO                      Food and Agriculture Organization

G7                         Group of 7:  Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States

G77                       Group of 77:  non-aligned movement of developing States (often G77/China)

GATT                   General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

GDP                     Gross Domestic Product

GNP                     Gross National Product

HDI                      Human Development Index

HIPC                    Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative

IBRD                   International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

ICESCR                              International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

ICJ                       International Court of Justice

ICSID                  International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes

ICTSD                 International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development

IDA                      International Development Association

IFC                       International Finance Corporation

IFI                        International Financial Institution

ILA                       International Law Association

ILO                       International Labor Organization

IMF                      International Monetary Fund

LDCs                    Least Developed Countries

MDB                    Multilateral Development Bank

MDGs                  Millennium Development Goals

MNE                    Multinational Enterprise

NAFTA                North American Free Trade Agreement

NEPAD                New Partnership for Africa's Development

NGOs                   Non-Governmental Organizations

NIEO                   New International Economic Order

OECD                  Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

OPEC                   Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

PRGF                   Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility

PRSP                    Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper

R&D                     Research and Development

SAP                      Structural Adjustment Programme

SIA                       Sustainability Impact Assessment

TRIPS                  1994 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

UDHR                 Universal Declaration of Human Rights

UN                        United Nations

UNCED                              1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

UNCTAD            United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNDP                  United Nations Development Programme

UNEP                  United Nations Environment Programme

UNESCO            United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNTS                  United Nations Treaty Series

WCED                 World Commission on Environment and Development

WHO                   World Health Organization

WIPO                  World Intellectual Property Organization

WSSD                  World Summit on Sustainable Development

WTO                    World Trade Organization

WWF                   World Wide Fund for Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund)