International Sustainable Development Law - ISDLaw - has its roots in international environmental law. International environmental law provides a rich and growing tapestry that encompasses protection of the planet's natural resources and biological diversity, ensures safe transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and materials, and seeks to preserve our clean air and water. But international environmental law is only one aspect of ISDLaw.

International trade law has development as one of its chief objectives, as does international investment law. Harnessing their important potential benefits while mitigating their environment-related stresses is a key challenge of ISDLaw. As well, civil society and Indigenous Peoples have brought a focus on equity and human dignity that has powerfully shaped the building of ISDLaw.

Weaving all these elements together is the challenge of today's ISDLaw.