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Activity to Evaluate the Precautionary Principal

What is the Precautionary Principal?

The precautionary principle holds that, if the effects of a human-induced change would be very large, perhaps catastrophic, those responsible for the change must prove that it will not do harm before proceeding.

This is the reverse of the normal situation, where those who are concerned about the change would have to prove that it will do harm in order to prevent such changes going ahead.

What are the issues to resolve?

Consider whether the harm of measures taken now to limit global warming could be balanced against the potentially much greater harm for future generations of taking no action now.

Case Study: Consequences on Polar Bears & Arctic Habitats

Watch the video below from the WWF on Polar Bears.

Effects of global warming on the arctic include:

increased rates of decomposition of detritus previously trapped in permafrost,
expansion of the range of habitats available to temperate species,
loss of ice habitat,
changes in distribution of prey species affecting higher trophic levels, and
increased success of pest species, including pathogens.

Questions

Which of these effects could benefit Polar Bears and how?
Which couls harm polar bears? Explain how each one would cause this harm.

The case of oil exploration in the arctic is a good one for this issue. Watch the two video clips below and then answer the questions.

Questions

Why did the oil company want to drill in the protected area?
What are the costs to the company drilling offshore?
What are the costs to car drivers if we don't drill for oil in the arctic?
What has the Law firm "Earth Justice" proved in the courts?
What would the oil Company have had to do if the Precautionary principal was applied to this case?
What role does the US government have in preventing the causes of Global Warming?
What are the costs to the US economy of protecting Polar Bears?

There are also ethical questions about whether the health and wealth of future human generations should be jeopardized, and whether it is right to knowingly damage the habitat of, and possibly drive to extinction, species other than humans.

The environmental consequesces of global warming are genuinely global. But the changes are most noticable in the arctic.

Precautionary Principal Summary Table

	Advantages of the Precautionary Principal	Disadvantages of the precautionary principal
Precautionary principal for development of new oil wells in the Alaskan arctic.	Those who make a profit from the oil well have to pay the costs of poving that it causes no global warming. The PP would lead to prevention of environmental damage. The PP would encourage the exploration of alternatives - better, safer, cheaper ways to do things. Sustainable economic development will be longer lasting. Jobs will be created in environmental protect The PP helps defend the rights of people who are suffer effects far from the cause, eg polynesian islands.	The Oil company may conduct biased research to prove that its development is environmentally safe. Oil company profits may be reduced. A science-based precautionary approach, known as risk assessment, has been a part of environmental and health laws for over 100 years. We don't need the Precautionary Principle. Risk Assessment has already delivered a cleaner environment and better health. We don't need the PP. Some economic development may be limited because of environmental protection.
Precautionary Principal for development of new drugs.
Precautionary Principal for development of GMO crops.

Advantages of the Precautionary Principal

Disadvantages of the precautionary principal

Precautionary principal for development of new oil wells in the Alaskan arctic.

Those who make a profit from the oil well have to pay the costs of poving that it causes no global warming.

The PP would lead to prevention of environmental damage.

The PP would encourage the exploration of alternatives - better, safer, cheaper ways to do things.

Sustainable economic development will be longer lasting.

Jobs will be created in environmental protect

The PP helps defend the rights of people who are suffer effects far from the cause, eg polynesian islands.

The Oil company may conduct biased research to prove that its development is environmentally safe.

Oil company profits may be reduced.

A science-based precautionary approach, known as risk assessment, has been a part of environmental and health laws for over 100 years. We don't need the Precautionary Principle.

Risk Assessment has already delivered a cleaner environment and better health. We don't need the PP.

Some economic development may be limited because of environmental protection.

Precautionary Principal for development of new drugs.

Precautionary Principal for development of GMO crops.