If sustainable development is a new conceptual space through which economic development must be defined, "space" does not imply uniformity. Hence the debate, particularly as regards the implementation of the new rules we set for ourselves, to define what pertains to the qualitative, and who does what.
An ethics committee answers the questions that arise in a firm, and can thus help in defining standards. Other actors participate, such as rating agencies. Their legitimacy and credibility depend on their set up and financial backing. Universities or major institutions such as the World Bank could also be involved.