Precautionary principle

S. Shiraz

Definition• The precept   that an action should not be taken if   the  consequences  are  uncertain  and  potentially  dangerous

Regulation Variety!

Guilty until proven innocent

• Industry would have to demonstrate that a development would cause no biodiversity loss before proceeding

http://conservationbytes.com/2013/07/18/guilty-until-proven-innocent

http://www.american.com/archive/2011/may/the-problems-with-precaution-a-principle-without-principle

‘Better safe than sorry’

Means that no activity which ‘raises threats of harm to human health or the environment’ should proceed until proven ‘safe.’

Innocent until proven guilty•  industry may proceed if no one can find species that will be directly affected 

Misunderstood and Misrepresented

• Misunderstood, because precaution is so often wrongly  claimed  to  be  unscientific  or  anti-technology. 

• Misrepresented,  because  a  large  part  of  the resulting  stigma  can  be  a  systematic  –  even deliberate – effect of power!!

Examples of Precautionary Principle Targets

• Environment Global warming/cooling Loss of species Population explosion

• Energy Nuclear power plants

• Food safety Genetically modified crops Mad cow disease Mercury in fish Chlorinated water

• Chemicals DDT and other pesticides BPA

• Health Vaccinations New drugs

• Technology Cell phones and towers

Examples of Precautionary Principle Users

• EPA CO2 pollutant classification Mining and power plant permits

• Community development planners

Smart growth/sustainable development/livable communities/Agenda 21

• Transportation departments Rail and other public

transportation Alternative cars

• Dept of Energy Nuclear plants

• FDA New drug approval times Drugs withdrawn from market

• Consumer Product Safety Commission

Crib recalls

Risk Analysis , Yes or No?!

References

• http://www.american.com/archive/2011/may/the-problems-with-precaution-a-principle-without-principle

• http://www.environmentalcommons.org/staging/precaution-debating.pdf

• http://conservationbytes.com/2013/07/18/guilty-until-proven-innocent