This paper aims to set out the issues of importance in addressing the links between sustainable development and the rush to regionalism. It begins by describing the trends in regional agreements. It then surveys current practice, asking how the agreements address a number of key issues of importance to sustainable development, both in the context of economic development and the context of environment. Based on that survey, and a survey of the literature, it then sets out a number of key themes, and asks what we know and do not know about each. The concluding section describes the state of research in relation to these themes.