The Willing World: Shaping and Sharing a Sustainable Global Prosperity

In this time of unwillingness, the right kinds of global solutions are needed now more than ever. Climate change is here and intensifying. Anxieties over economic globalization grip many in the fear of change. While these fearful have turned inward into unwillingness, the world's willing are working harder than ever for international and other cooperative solutions. James Bacchus explains why most of the solutions we need must be found in local and regional partnerships of the willing that can be scaled up and linked up worldwide. This can only be achieved within new and enhanced enabling frameworks of global and other international rules that are upheld through the international rule of law. To succeed, these rules and frameworks must for the first time see and treat economy and environment as one. The Willing World explains how best we can build the right legal structure to attain our global goals - and summon and inspire the willingness needed to do it.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Introduction; Part I. On What We Hope to Do: 1. On the elusive definition of sustainable development; 2. On defining sustainable development by doing it; 3. On the indivisibility of our economic and environmental future; 4. On the necessity of the international rule of law for effective global economic and environmental governance; Part II. On What We Have Done So Far: 5. On the nature of competitiveness and the need for world trade rules; 6. On our international economic efforts on trade and investment; 7. On our climate and other international environmental efforts; 8. On our global goals for sustainable development; 9. On the unfolding of international economic and environmental law in our unwilling world; Part III. On What We Must Do Now: 10. On the need for new approaches to global economic and environmental goals and governance; 11. On re-imagining the relationship between economy and environment in international economic law to support sustainable development; 12. On a new approach for sustainable energy in international trade law; 13. On how international investment law can be re-imagined for sustainable development; 14. On policy space and post-Paris climate action; 15. On food, forests, ocean, and fisheries; 16. On water, biodiversity, and rules to protect natural resources; 17. On making and re-making enabling frameworks for sustainable development; 18. On resolving disputes and linking enabling frameworks through the international rule of law; Conclusion.

About the Author :
James Bacchus was a founding member and twice the chairman of the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization - the chief judge on the highest court of international trade. He is Distinguished University Professor of Global Affairs and Director of the Center for Global Economic and Environmental Opportunity of the University of Central Florida. He is the author of Trade and Freedom (2004), and has written and spoken extensively on global governance in leading publications and on prominent platforms worldwide. For decades, he has been an advocate of freer trade and investment, and, starting with his service as a Member of the Congress of the United States before becoming a judge, he has long also been engaged in efforts to forestall climate change and further global sustainable development.

Review :
'James Bacchus bridges the too often distant worlds of trade and the environment with a rare combination of learning, expertise, and experience. The Willing World is a search for 'bottom up' solutions within conducive frameworks of rules. For Bacchus, a person with both practical political and extensive international experience, good governance is neither just formalisms nor strictures, but instead a legitimate framework that enables people to cooperate, innovate, and address the challenges of their era.' Robert B. Zoellick, Former President of the World Bank, US Trade Representative, and US Deputy Secretary of State 'James Bacchus' rich experience as a lawyer, Congressman, Member and Chair of the World Trade Organization's Appellate Body is apparent in his fascinating exposition The Willing World: Shaping and Sharing a Sustainable Global Prosperity. He eloquently explains how shared prosperity can be achieved if leaders worldwide do not retreat from globalization but instead collaborate in dealing with the tough environmental and economic challenges of the twenty-first century. This extraordinary presentation brilliantly uses history to demonstrate how we can grow and govern the global economy in ways that will achieve sustainable development beneficial to all mankind. It is a 'must read' for all citizens of the planet and their leaders.' Carla A. Hills, Ambassador and Co-Chair of the Council on Foreign Relations and former United States Trade Representative 'Few people know the ins and outs of global cooperation like James Bacchus. As one of the founding members of the WTO's Appellate Body, he has played an important role in helping to maintain and strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system. He also brings to the table his vast experience in politics, academia, and the private sector. I am pleased to see him putting this unique perspective to good use in this publication, helping to shed light on some of the most pressing challenges facing our world.' Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General, World Trade Organization 'James Bacchus is brilliant and, unlike so many who are fearful of the world becoming a village, he has great optimism about emerging globalism and how it can work for us all. This book is a great blueprint or map. I hope all who read it can begin to see the tremendous opportunities we can create.' Patricia Schroeder, former Congresswoman, Colorado 'James Bacchus is a humane and thoughtful international lawyer who has settled disputes between states at the highest level. That experience and his capacity to connect ideas and people from across intellectual divides, to see sense in counter views and to respect those who challenge orthodoxy provide him with high ground to offer, in his own humble word, suggestions on how the willing can will a sustainable and prosperous world. The Willing World is wise counsel. We should listen, learn and act accordingly.' James Cameron, Chairman Overseas Development Institute, and Executive Fellow, Yale Centre of Environmental Law and Policy 'With the knowledge of one who has been there, James Bacchus both demonstrates what it takes - and challenges us - to ensure a prosperous future, a livable world for ours and future generations. And he does it by refreshing the construct of sustainable development and reviewing it against the high stakes of inaction in the face of evidence; the power of the rule of law and the imperative to re-imagine and adapt it; the vital need to advance an enlightened global compact through cooperation rather than confrontation. A must-read for anyone engaged in the global governance of trade and investment, climate, energy and natural resources, and development.' Ricardo Melendez-Ortiz, Chief Executive, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development