23 February 2002: This event was held from 21-23 February 2002 in Lyon, France. Organized by Green Cross International, Earth Dialogues provided a forum for debate on how to forge the necessary links between globalization, sustainable development and ethics.

The event included eight roundtables, which addressed four themes: the ethical challenges in promoting sustainable development; the role of ethical norms in promoting sustainable development; policy recommendations for action and implementation; and political strategies for Johannesburg and beyond.

Roundtable one, comprising representatives of international economic institutions, made a number of policy recommendations for action and implementation in the areas of trade, finance, and the role of the World Bank/IMF. Roundtable two, attended by representatives of business and industry, made recommendations for mechanisms of international regulation and means of implementing sustainable development policies for business and administrations. Roundtable three, comprising members of media and communication, provided ideas for concrete actions to promote media coverage of issues related to sustainable development. Roundtable four, consisting of parliamentarians and government representatives, outlined 12 policy recommendations for Johannesburg, including the establishment of a World Parliament, a World Environment Court and the development of professional ethical codes. Roundtable five, including representatives of international institutions, addressed ethics, governance, subsidiarity, international organizations, and the agenda for Monterrey and Johannesburg. Roundtable six panelists, representing religious and spiritual leaders, identified and elaborated on key areas for collaboration between religious and other institutions. NGO representatives at roundtable seven recommended a focus on partnership, coalition, and public awareness for Johannesburg, as well as support to small enterprises and an international fund for sustainable development. Roundtable eight, comprising of former foreign ministers, recommended that the Earth Dialogue organizers form a Political Action Committee to look more thoroughly at key issues and put pressure on participants at the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) to deliver on the issues.

More information on this meeting is available online at: http://www.earthdialogues.org/en/tables/rd_compilation.html