Despite their many points of intersection, international environmental law and international trade law are characterized by divergent evolutionary processes. Regardless, the history of the international economic order trumping environmental concerns has impacted the contours of international environmental law and the process of globalization has raised ethical, philosophical and political questions about societal evolution and where environmental protection is valued relative to other pressing concerns.

Presently, as both multilateral environmental agreements and free trade agreements proliferate, the question of how trade can promote - not jeopardize - sustainable development objectives is extremely pertinent.

.Environment and Trade for West Africa