Precautionary Principle is a concept best summed up by the proverb “better safe than sorry” or the medical maxim to “first do no harm.” While there is no single definition, it typically refers to acting to prevent harm by not doing anything that could have negative consequences, even if the possibility of those consequences is uncertain.
Guilty until proven innocent
Whenever we make even the smallest change within a complex system, we risk dramatic unintended consequences
- Precautionary Principle reflects the reality of working with and within complex systems
- It shifts the burden of proof from proving something was dangerous after the fact to proving it is safe before taking chances
- Waiting for more complete information before risking causing damage
When not to use the Precautionary Principle:
When the likelihood or scale of a potential risk is too low for precautionary action to have any benefit.
- If we know for sure that not taking an action will cause more damage than taking it possibly could, it’s not a good idea to use precaution. Otherwise, we shouldn’t use the principle.
Preventing risks and protecting resources
Best known for its use as a regulatory guideline in environmental law and public health, the Precautionary Principle originated with the German term “Vorsorgeprinzip” applied to regulations for preventing air pollution.
- Preventing risk: legislators shouldn’t take actions where our knowledge of the potential for environmental damage is incomplete or uncertain but there is cause for concern
- Protecting resources: preserving things like water and soil in a form future generations can use
- Science doesn’t move fast enough to protect us from potential risks, especially ones that shift harm elsewhere or take a long time to show up
How and When to Use the Precautionary Principle
If there are competing priorities (beyond avoidance of harm), it should be combined with other decision-making principles
- The decision to take precautionary action should be based on the most up-to-date science
- When costs of waiting are low
- This means that if the safety of something is uncertain but the costs of learning more are low, it is a good idea to use precaution
- Preserving optionality is a priority
- Keeping our options open by avoiding limiting choices gives us flexibility later on
