Precautionary Principle
The Precautionary Principle has been widely adopted around the world. When applied it aims to protect the environment from long term and irreversible damage and justifies taking action through for example, legislation and regulation, even when there is not conclusive scientific proof of the impact.
The principle recognises that by the time such proof exists it is often too late and the damage cannot be repaired.
"The contracting parties shall apply: The precautionary principle, by virtue of which preventative measures are to be taken when there are reasonable grounds for concern that substances or energy introduced, directly or indirectly, into the marine environment may bring about hazards to human health, harm living resources and marine ecosystems, damage amenities or interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea, even when there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between inputs and the effects."
The principle recognises that by the time such proof exists it is often too late and the damage cannot be repaired.
Definitions
"In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation."Declaration from the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, also known as Agenda 21
"The contracting parties shall apply: The precautionary principle, by virtue of which preventative measures are to be taken when there are reasonable grounds for concern that substances or energy introduced, directly or indirectly, into the marine environment may bring about hazards to human health, harm living resources and marine ecosystems, damage amenities or interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea, even when there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between inputs and the effects."
Article 2 of the Oslo and Paris Commission, OSPAR Convention For The Protection Of The Marine Environment Of The North-East Atlantic, 1992
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