This chapter explores the relationship between international trade and sustainable development, with a particular focus on climate change. It traces the evolution of the multilateral trading system from its origins in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade to the present day, highlighting the shift from a focus on trade liberalisation to a broader commitment to sustainable development. The chapter examines how the World Trade Organization has grappled with integrating environmental concerns into its framework, including the development of ‘greening’ jurisprudence, institutions, and rules. It proposes a reform agenda to further align the trading system with global sustainability goals, emphasising the need for alignment with climate change commitments, harmonised sustainability standards, reformed subsidy approaches, governance and institutional reforms, and a focus on equity and justice.

This chapter examines the relationship between trade and sustainable development, including its developmental dimension. It argues that trade policy and international trade institutions must be integrated into broader international efforts to promote sustainable development. This requires an end to the siloed treatment of trade and other policy areas. It also requires a more holistic approach to international law-making, including greater cooperation among international organisations and a willingness to make trade-offs between competing goals. Finally, it requires a recognition of the different preferences of rich and poor countries and a willingness to address the power imbalances that exist in the global trading system.

Islamic environmental law presents a comprehensive approach to ecological preservation, grounded in religious principles and ethical responsibilities. This research explores the Islamic legal framework for environmental protection, positioning humans as stewards (khalifa) of nature rather than absolute owners. The study illuminates how Islamic jurisprudence integrates environmental conservation into a holistic system of social and spiritual responsibility. The research examines key institutional mechanisms within Islamic law for environmental management, including land reclamation (Ihia’ Al-Arad Al-Mawat), natural reserves (Al-Hima), protective zones (Al-Harim), and charitable endowments (Al-Waqf). Central to this approach is the principle of prioritizing collective welfare over individual interests, with a strong emphasis on preventing environmental harm and promoting sustainable development. The paper critically analyzes the potential for implementing Islamic environmental principles in contemporary legal frameworks, particularly in Muslim-majority countries. It advocates for a renewed environmental governance model that synthesizes religious ethics, scientific understanding, and proactive institutional strategies to address ecological challenges.

In a world grappling with pressing environmental challenges, the intersection of Islamic epistemologies and sustainable development models offers a unique perspective. This chapter book delves into Islamic perspectives on environmental ethics and sustainability, exploring the theological foundations, ethical principles, and practical implications of stewardship and trust in Islam. Drawing upon Quranic teachings and scholarly insights, it examines humanity’s role as stewards of the Earth, emphasizing responsible resource management, moderation, and justice. Rooted in concepts of Khilafah (stewardship) and Amanah (trust), Islamic environmental ethics highlight the ethical obligation to ensure sustainable resource use and protect the environment for future generations. Additionally, the concepts of moderation and justice, known as "Al-Wasatiyyah," offer guidance for achieving balance, equity, and harmony in all aspects of life, including environmental conservation. Through case studies and examples, this chapter book demonstrates how Islamic principles can inform environmental decision-making processes and contribute to holistic, sustainable development efforts. By integrating spiritual dimensions into environmental conservation practices, it advocates for a more comprehensive approach to addressing contemporary environmental challenges, fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world.

Islamic legal scholarship is split on the permissibility of corporate personhood. While some scholars advocate unequivocal permissibility, others are critical because Islamic law prohibits limited liability in most contracts. The religion also regards the human being as the only subject of Divine command. Despite their differences, most jurists agree that the corporate form is an effective tool to mobilize large amounts of capital. However, only one scholar, Ahmad Ali Abdullah addresses the exploitative impact corporations have on human rights and the environment. In this context, I argue that we should address the issue of corporate personhood from a maqasid framework. The preservation and protection of wealth is a legitimate purpose of Islamic law. However, the preservation and protection of life is a higher purpose in the hierarchy. The preservation of life is directly linked to the preservation of the earth. While recognizing the corporate form’s utility, I advocate creating alternative business models that lead to more sustainable development.

This chapter explores the comprehensive Islamic legal and ethical framework for environmental protection and sustainable development. Rooted in the principles of divine unity (Tawhid) and stewardship, Islamic law presents a holistic approach to natural resource management that emphasizes the intrinsic connection between human responsibility and environmental preservation. The text meticulously analyzes Islamic jurisprudential principles governing the protection of fundamental natural resources including water, air, land, animals, and plants.

The research demonstrates that Islamic environmental ethics transcend mere conservation, viewing environmental protection as a spiritual and moral obligation. Key principles include the prohibition of waste, the concept of trust (amanah), and the fundamental right of all creatures to benefit from natural resources. The study highlights how Islamic law prioritizes public interest, ecological balance, and the prevention of harm through sophisticated legal mechanisms.

By examining Quranic injunctions, Prophetic traditions, and Islamic juristic principles, the work provides a nuanced understanding of how Islamic law conceptualizes humanity’s relationship with the natural world. It presents a robust framework for environmental management that balances human needs with ecological sustainability, offering a distinctive perspective on environmental protection rooted in religious ethics and spiritual responsibility.

In a world facing technological disruption, demographic shifts, and ecological urgency, Life Design offers a hopeful, human-centered response. This chapter explores how Life Design helps us shape the future – not just individually, but collectively. Through ten provocations, readers are invited to reimagine success, work rhythms, intergenerational learning, prototyping for adults, and even behavior-inspiring furniture. We explore how AI can become a creative ally in reflection, ideation, and decision-making – if used with discernment. Life Design also provides tools for navigating longevity, designing sustainable and fulfilling postretirement lives, and contributing meaningfully to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By connecting personal transformation with global action, Life Design becomes more than a method – it’s a mindset and a movement. The future isn’t fixed – it’s designed. And it begins with small, intentional steps taken today.

International investment law is designed to encourage the movement of capital toward optimally productive uses, thus generating economic gains and fostering development. At the same time, treaty-based protections of foreign investors can restrict host governments’ ability to pass rules that negatively impact on foreign investments even when such rules are for socially desirable goals such as poverty reduction. Applied to the question of new technologies, this framework theoretically leaves access to and utilization of new technologies between the technology-pulling impact of investment protections and the equity-hindering impacts of regulatory measures to reduce poverty in all its forms. Does the practice of international investment law dispute resolution indicate that this tension is resolved in favor of technology investors or in favor of equality-enhancing measures?

This chapter examines the various aspects of the digital divide and the provisions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that contain states’ promises on the relationship to promote access to new technologies as a way of reducing poverty. It then looks at several early investment disputes that have arisen out of new technology investments in order to draw conclusions about whether investment protections help bridge the divide or exacerbate it. The result is more ambiguous than expected.

Chapter 2 establishes the fundamentals of sustainability, building from the Brundtland Report’s definition of sustainable development through contemporary frameworks like planetary boundaries and doughnut economics. It introduces the Earth-as-endowment metaphor to illustrate humanity’s relationship with planetary resources and explores the Nordic region’s significant contributions to sustainability thinking and practice. The chapter examines how overconsumption threatens Earth’s regenerative capacity and details Nordic innovations in environmental protection, circular economy, and climate policy. It concludes by addressing the challenge of overcoming sustainability denial, particularly in the United States, while highlighting the Nordic region’s pragmatic approach to environmental challenges. Throughout, the chapter emphasizes systems thinking and the interconnected nature of sustainability challenges, establishing theoretical foundations for examining capitalism’s role in advancing sustainable development.

Chapter 1 introduces the Nordic nations – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden – as inspiring examples for transforming capitalism toward sustainability. It establishes their consistent leadership across global benchmarks in areas including sustainability, democracy, and societal well-being. The chapter addresses common misconceptions about Nordic societies, particularly the frequent American mischaracterization of their market economies as “socialist.” Through empirical evidence and personal narrative, it traces the region’s remarkable transformation from nineteenth-century poverty to contemporary shared prosperity. It examines how Nordic experiences might inform improvements to American capitalism, while acknowledging key differences between contexts. It also introduces fundamental features of Nordic capitalism, including universal social systems, stakeholder orientation, and democratic institutions. The chapter concludes by positioning Nordic capitalism as a valuable source of insights for realizing sustainable capitalism, while acknowledging its imperfections and ongoing challenges.

This chapter details the vital role of Indigenous trade and investment in promoting sustainable development. Firstly, it discusses the prerequisite for Indigenous trade, emphasizing a nation-building approach centred on the significance of robust tribal infrastructure. The chapter then addresses the barriers hindering Indigenous inter-tribal trade, including state, or provincial interference in tribal jurisdiction, poor tribal governance, Canada’s failure to honour its Jay Treaty obligations, the lack of Indigenous foreign trade zones, the exclusion of Indigenous traditional knowledge (TK) from intellectual property (IP) regimes, and historical challenges in trade financing. Additionally, the chapter explores Indigenous trade and commerce engagements with non-Indigenous enterprises, both with and without federal permission, highlighting the implications, challenges, and opportunities involved. By examining these aspects, the chapter advocates for empowering Indigenous nations through trade and investment, fostering economic opportunities while preserving cultural heritage, and working towards sustainable development by creating a strong economic baseline.

This chapter presents a case study of Canada, examining the intricate relationship between Indigenous peoples and the developments related to British, then Canadian, governance. It begins by exploring the historical and legal context within which Indigenous peoples exist in Canada, tracing the impact of colonization and the recognition of Indigenous rights. The chapter then investigates the potential for affirming these rights through treaties and trade agreements, highlighting the role of treaties in recognizing and protecting Indigenous rights and the opportunities and challenges presented by trade agreements for Indigenous economic development and self-determination. It further analyses the Canadian government’s efforts to domestically enforce the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the intersection of Canadian treaties with trade agreements. This chapter emphasizes the importance of ongoing dialogue, collaboration, and the implementation of measures aligned with UNDRIP principles to foster the recognition, empowerment, and well-being of Indigenous peoples within the Canadian context.

This chapter explores the complex relationship between extractive industries, sustainable development, and Indigenous treaty law. It begins by examining the international law guidance available for extractive industries, analysing frameworks and principles that promote responsible and sustainable practices in resource extraction while considering the social, economic, and environmental dimensions. This chapter then focuses on the specific challenges of oil and gas exploration, highlighting the impacts on Indigenous communities and emphasizing the importance of meaningful consultation, consent, and fair benefit-sharing in alignment with Indigenous treaty rights. Furthermore, it explores the mining sector’s implications for sustainable development, considering the social, economic, and environmental aspects and emphasizing the role of Indigenous treaty law in ensuring responsible practices, equitable resource distribution, and the protection of Indigenous rights and lands. Thus, the chapter emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that respects Indigenous rights, integrates Indigenous perspectives and consent, and promotes sustainable practices.