the precautionary principle “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is worth a pound...
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The Precautionary Principle
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
“Better safe than sorry”
“Look before you leap”
The Precautionary Principle
“Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for
postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”
Earth Summit 2002, Principle 15.
The Precautionary Principle
"When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment,
precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully
established scientifically." Wingspread Conference, 1998
The Precautionary Principle
3 Key Elements
“When we have a REASONABLE SUSPICION of harm, and SCIENTIFIC UNCERTAINTY about cause and effect, then we have a DUTY TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT HARM.”
Science and Environmental Health Network
The Precautionary Principle
Major New Ideas1. Shifts the burden of proof from
‘Innocent until proven Guilty’, to ‘Guilty until proven Innocent’.
2. Removes uncertainty as excuse for waiting to act until all “sound science” is in.
The Precautionary Principle
Major New Ideas3. A whole new paradigm for risk.
CURRENT = how much can we live withNEW (PP) = how little can we cause
The Precautionary Principle
STRONG VERSION
“The Precautionary Principle MANDATES that when there is a risk of significant health or environmental damage, and when there is scientific uncertainty as to the nature of that damage or the likelihood of the risk, then DECISIONS SHOULD…PREVENT SUCH ACTIVITIES…unless and until scientific evidence shows that the damage will not occur. “
Friends of the Earth
The Precautionary Principle
WEAK VERSION
Where….there are REASONABLE grounds for concern …but scientific uncertainty persists, PROVISIONAL risk management measures based on a broad COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS giving priority to human health and the environment…MAY BE ADOPTED, pending further scientific information…without having to wait until the reality and seriousness of those adverse effects become fully apparent.
European Commission
The Precautionary Principle
Existing Areas of Precaution• Drugs• Food• Transportation• Workplace • Environmental Impact Statements
The Precautionary Principle
Examples of the application of the PP• Phthalates, Bisphenol A (Endocrine Disruptors)• U.K. Health agency suggesting little kids not use
cell phones;"The agency's position is precautionary because of
the genuine uncertainties that come with the rapid introduction of any new technology.”
“Embracing the Spirit of the Precautionary Principle“We agree with the spirit of the Precautionary Principle: when we suspect that an ingredient in a product or the product itself is capable of causing harm to human health and the environment, we will act to find better alternatives.”
Arguments For
LOWERS THRESHOLD FOR ACTION
PROACTIVE BEFORE RISKS OCCUR, RATHER THAN REACTIVE AFTERWARDS
BURDEN OF PROOF ON PROPONENTS, RATHER THAN PUBLIC
Arguments Against
SYSTEM NEGLECTPRECLUDES PROGRESS
IGNORES BENEFITS AND TRADE OFFS.
LACK OF INCLUSION OF ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS, HAS HEALTH IMPLICATIONS.
Arguments Against
ILL-DEFINED. DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS, INTERPRETATIONS.
JUST A COVER FOR A VALUES-DRIVEN ATTITUDE ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. (advocates only propose it for enviro issues)
The Precautionary Principle
STRONG VERSION
In a 1999 ruling on antibiotics for cattle… “It is appropriate to withdraw potentially harmful products until it can be conclusively demonstrated that they pose no present or future risk to human health”.
European Court of First Instance
The Precautionary Principle
WEAK VERSION
Italian ban on genetically modified maize was thrown out…“the risk must be adequately sustained by scientific evidence.”
European High Court
The Precautionary Principle
Key OPEN Issues
HOW TO DEAL WITH UNCERTAINTY. When are we sure enough to invoke
precaution? Are hints of harm enough?When are we sure enough to allow a new
product or process? Standard of proof?Who decides
The Precautionary Principle
Key OPEN Issues
WHAT LEVEL OF HARM TRIGGERS PRECAUTION?SeriousIrreversible (bioaccumulation,
environmental persistence)Sustainability Issues.
Who Decides
The Precautionary Principle
Key OPEN Issues
TRADEOFFSBanning a product or process to prevent its possible harms
precludes its potential benefits.(Genetically modified food)
Banning one product or process to prevent possible harms could lead to risky alternatives initially thought safe
(“Clean” CFCs replace carcinogenic TCE as industrial solvent)Who Decides