Abstract
The precautionary principle has often been described as an extreme principle that neglects science and stifles innovation. However, such an interpretation has no support in the official definitions of the principle that have been adopted by the European Union and by the signatories of international treaties on environmental protection. In these documents, the precautionary principle is a guideline specifying how to deal with certain types of scientific uncertainty. In this contribution, this approach to the precautionary principle is explicated with the help of concepts from the philosophy of science and comparisons with general notions of practical rationality. Three major problems in its application are discussed, and it is concluded that to serve its purpose, the precautionary principle has to (1) be combined with other decision principles in cases with competing top priorities, (2) be based on the current state of science, which requires procedures for scientific updates, and (3) exclude potential dangers whose plausibility is too low to trigger meaningful precautionary action.
Highlights
No other safety principle has been so vehemently contested as the precautionary principle
The declaration from the Second International Conference on Protection of the North Sea in 1987 was the first major international document in which a “principle” of precaution was promulgated. It was called “the principle of precautionary action,” and meant that “in order to protect the North Sea from possibly damaging effects of the most dangerous substances, a precautionary approach is necessary which may require action to control inputs of such substances even before a causal link has been established by absolutely clear scientific evidence” [10]
The common claims that the precautionary principle is irrational, goes against science, stifles innovation, etc. are based on interpretations of the principle that deviate drastically from the official interpretations in international treaties and in legislation and other binding documents adopted by the European Union
Summary
No other safety principle has been so vehemently contested as the precautionary principle. The declaration from the Second International Conference on Protection of the North Sea in 1987 was the first major international document in which a “principle” of precaution was promulgated It was called “the principle of precautionary action,” and meant that “in order to protect the North Sea from possibly damaging effects of the most dangerous substances, a precautionary approach is necessary which may require action to control inputs of such substances even before a causal link has been established by absolutely clear scientific evidence” [10]. The principle refers to the evaluation of uncertain evidence for decisionmaking purposes, which is only one of several types of cautious reasoning that we may apply when making decisions It is not a general principle of cautiousness or “better safe than sorry.”. No attempt will be made at a systematic exploration of how it is applied in practical decision-making.
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