Trade, environment and sustainable development: What changed in Doha

Abstract

Agenda 21, the blueprint for sustainable development, adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, does not have a chapter dedicated to trade. Yet since 1992, trade has become increasingly important to democracy, human rights, women's rights, economic development, employment and the environment. "Trade and environment" has been identified by many governments and civil society organisations as an important policy issue in preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. At the same time, environment has become a highly politicised word in the world inhabited by trade negotiators. The aim of this paper is to examine whether or not the inclusion of WTO environmental negotiations, as outlined in the Doha Ministerial Declaration, advances or retards sustainable development.