The participants reached a consensus on the need to urge a strategy on sustainable development in search of increasing life quality, taking into consideration that all actions are nothing but means to reach a better development in the region. As expressed by the Director of the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNEP, the conference met the expectations which were to bring the regional dialogue on trade and environment. This dialogue has been developed within the United Nations organisations as well as with the inter-governmental organisations, government representatives, academics and citizenship.

The conference, set within the framework of the priorities established by the Forum of Ministers of Latin America and the Caribbean, was jointly organised by the Economy and Trade Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Mexican Council for Sustainable Development (COMEDES), the International Institute of Sustainable Development (IISD) and the United Nations Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTAD). UNEP believes that the current agendas on environmental impact of trade have been quite narrow; therefore a decision was made to widen the debate.

Thus, academic, governmental and civil society representatives were invited to participate, as well as international and regional organisations from several countries (Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela).