ABSTRACT The international legal framework on sustainable economic development is undergoing a transformation. It is built upon the previous unachieved sustainable development goals, as progress has not been very satisfactory and the world is facing further challenges. A review of the legislation and the different official reports that measure the outcomes puts forward that sustainable economic development is a concept in chaos, which compromises its importance and effectiveness. The concept has been mistreated by unclear references to sustainability that have concentrated in a discourse that misunderstands 'development' and conflates it with 'economic growth'. This has led to a renewed interest in sustainable economic development and features thereof. Consequently, the purpose of this research is an assessment on the inadequacy oflaw and policies in achieving sustainable economic development.
