Key Message
IISD has set forth the principles which guide its policy work in trade and sustainable development in two important statements of purpose: The Winnipeg Principles on Trade and Sustainable Development (1993); and the IISD Statement on Trade and Sustainable Development (2000).
Our Philosophy
IISD believes it is important to clearly state our philosophy on trade, investment and sustainable development. Too often on trade there is a dialogue of the deaf, foundering on unstated assumptions or, worse yet, no dialogue at all among those that seek to advance economic, development and environmental objectives. By laying bare our assumptions and beliefs, we aim to create a basis for the kind of reasoned debate that can move us forward toward better policy and practice. We have, to date, done this in two different exercises, and we invite feedback on the results of both:
Content
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Trade and SD Principles
The results of a year-long, multistakeholder exercise, begun in 1993, that brought together nine prominent members of the trade, environment and development communities to find common ground on a set of principles. -
IISD Statement on Trade and SD
A product of our Trade and Investment group, written after the Seattle Ministerial in 2000. This statement constitutes our intellectual foundation, our assumptions made explicit. It is useful as a basis for understanding our work, but was also written as an attempt to begin debate on the underlying assumptions that divide the various actors in the fields of trade, investment and sustainable development.
Key Publication
Trade and Environment: A Resource Book
» IISD, 2007.IISD, in collaboration with the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development and The Ring, has released this publication as a means to shed light on some of the key themes in the trade and environment debate. Penned by 61 authors from 34 countries, this volume provides a blend of background information, expert commentaries and resources including a glossary, and a trade and environment timeline.
More...
Our Knowledge
» Themes
- Adaptation and Risk Reduction
- Climate Change and Energy
- Economics and SD
- Foreign Investment for SD
- Governance for Sustainable Development
- Internet and Technology
- International Trade
- Measurement and Assessment
- Natural Resources
- Networks & Partnerships
- Security
- Sustainable Markets
- Tomorrow's SD Leaders
» Initiatives
- Water Innovation Centre (WIC)
- The Sustainable Commodity Initiative (SCI)
- Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI)
