This is a realistic tool in our Choice of Futures.
Item 6 of The Earth Charter recognizes the importance of “preventing harm as the best method of environmental protection and when knowledge is limited, and applying a precautionary principle. (reference in the Earth Charter:).
Daily, individuals and governments are faced with making decisions for which there is very little research to support that human modification of an ecosystem can proceed witout a negative effect. In the past, in a drive to maximize economic profits, a decision would be made without knowing the effects on ecosystems or balancing economic profits with environmental profits. Now it is recognized that if there is any doubt about the outcome for the ecosystem, the project should not proceed.
If a marina is to be built in an intertidal mudflat, and if no studies have been done that would show the environmental impact, and the steps necessary to mitigate this projected impact, then decisions on such a project would be put on hold until the science is available.
The FAO has summarized its recommendations on this subject in its report: FAO Technical Guidelines for Responsible Fisheries – Precautionary Approach to Capture Fisheries and Species Introductions – http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/w3592e/w3592e00.htm
Fisheries Management, fisheries research , fisheries technology and species Introductions are all examined from the point of view of the Precautionary Approach.
In the reference below, three examples in relation to fisheries are discussed :
THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE..MAKING IT WORK FOR FISH AND FISHERMEN
By Molly Thomas and Zeke Grader http://www.pcffa.org/fn-jun00.htm
- “The first is habitat. With salmon and a number of other commercially-valuable fish stocks, particularly those that are riparian or wetland dependent, merely restricting harvest on a precautionary approach may do little to help stocks unless there is a concomitant use of the principle for the protection of habitat.
- The second area where the precautionary approach is needed now is with aquaculture. Pollution, nutrient loading, habitat destruction (e.g., mangrove deforestation in shrimp aquaculture), spread of disease, and escaped fish into the wild are all prevalent problems in many forms of aquaculture
- Third, the precautionary principle has to be applied to genetically-engineered fish or “GMOs” (genetically modified organisms).
The precautionary principle is really just about common sense. As individuals we use the precautionary principle in any situation that involves our own personal safety, at least most of the time. Usually, the ability to weigh these situations increases with age and experience. It is time in this society that we start to use our common sense a little bit more often. Who better to lead this movement than one of the oldest industries on the earth? We have seen it work in the past on discrete stocks of fish, maybe it is time that we insist that we use it universally.”
Other references on the Precationary Approach are included below:
A Canadian Perspective on the Precautionary Approach/Principle
http://www.ec.gc.ca/econom/pamphlet_e.htm
An Australian reference
http://jnevill.customer.netspace.net.au/Precautionary_principle.htm
The Precautionary Principle:
Where the possibility exists of serious or irreversible harm, lack of scientific certainty should not preclude cautious action by decision-makers to prevent such harm. Management needs to anticipate the possibility of ecological damage, rather than react to it as it occurs.
Jon Nevill 2004
There are many definitions of the precautionary principle. They all have two key elements. The first is an expression of a need by decision-makers to anticipate harm before it occurs. Within this element lies an implicit reversal of the onus of proof: under the precautionary approach it is the responsibility of an activity proponent to establish that the proposed activity will not result in significant harm. The second key element is the establishment of an obligation, if the level of harm may be high, for cautious action to prevent such harm even in the absence of scientific certainty.
The precautionary principle rests on history and ethics rather than logic or science. It incorporates the concept that a person or agency should take responsibility for unintentional damage which may (directly or indirectly) result from actions taken by this person or agency. It is also a principle based on experience. According to Ludwig et al. 1993: “Although there is considerable variation in detail, there is remarkable consistency in the history of resource exploitation: resources are inevitably overexploited, often to the point of collapse or extinction.” Even though the medium and long-term costs far outweigh short-term benefits, resource over-exploitation continues today. The need for caution is a clear message from recent history (Harremoës et al. 2002).
http://www.ids.org.au/~cnevill/LawlinkNSWStein.htm
Are Decision-makers Too Cautious With The Precautionary Principle?