Chapter 12 - Risk, Risk Perception, Risk Communication, Risk Acceptance: Risk Governance

Abstract

Risk governance is broader than risk management. It concerns decision making about major projects with private and public interests in a process of risk appraisal, evaluation, and discussion about risk reduction while continuously communicating with all stakeholders involved. Public safety is dominating, but economic or other interests may also be important. Psychologists and sociologists have studied how the public perceives risks and how risks shall be communicated. The International Risk Governance Council developed a framework of risk governance. Various countries developed different risk acceptance criteria. The British ALARP, As Low As Reasonably Practicable, rises in popularity. Below a risk tolerability level and down to a risk acceptance one, risk shall be reduced as long as costs are not disproportionately higher than benefits. More concrete guidance is available. Ways to handle uncertainty in assessment results are shown. Risk avoidance and distance to power in countries' cultures influence risk acceptability.