Transatlantic co-operation is crucial in advancing international environmental policy-making. A new book on international environmental policy-making and transatlantic co-operation addresses this subject. The book documents the papers and discussion of an international expert workshop held in the run-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Transatlantic understanding and partnership has become increasingly difficult over the past few years, and yet needs to be high on the agenda. The first part of the book assesses the institutional framework for transatlantic co-operation, the role of transatlantic co-operation in international environmental governance in general, and resulting implications for developing countries. The second part provides an in-depth analysis of the role of transatlantic co-operation in important areas of international environmental policy-making (climate change; trade, investment and environment; agriculture and biotechnology; natural resources management; environment, conflict and peace). The concluding section sets out a transatlantic policy agenda for strengthening and advancing the international system of environmental governance.

The book is based on a meeting of top-level practitioners and academics held in Lisbon, Portugal in 2000. The meeting was part of the preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. This meeting and the production of the book was generously supported by the Luso American Foundation and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

In addition to this book, a Policy Briefing Note was published in the run-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The Briefing Note conveys the basic recommendations coming out of the Lisbon meeting to a wider audience of political decision-makers and the interested public.