Balancing Progress and Protection: The Precautionary Principle in Global Environmental Governance

Abstract

The precautionary principle is based on the premise that the lack of scientific proof does not justify ignoring potential environmental harm. It advocates for taking precautions to avoid damage rather than dealing with the consequences. Therefore, the precautionary principle is a useful guide when governments need to create policy and regulations in the face of scientific uncertainty. This is especially important with regards to sustainable development as it provides legislators with a framework to enact environmental protections even in the absence of scientific certainty regarding the harm caused by specific industrial activities. Regulators across the world need to strike a balance between the economic benefits of some industrial activity and its social and environmental costs. Imprecise knowledge of health risks, inadequate data, lack of definitive proof, unclear priorities, and public debate all complicate the assessment and regulation of these costs. This article draws attention to the ongoing discussion around particulate matter, specifically around the nature of the exposure-response relationship for different health endpoints, the underlying causal mechanisms of the health impacts caused by different types of particles, and the effects of these impacts on diverse populations. It could lead to different reactions from the judiciary. Due to this uncertainty, those in charge of making decisions about regulations and adjudications about health, well-being, and the environment face governance issues.