Editing Precautionary principle (section)

== Formulations ==
Many definitions of the precautionary principle exist: "precaution" may be defined as "caution in advance", "caution practiced in the context of uncertainty", or informed [[prudence]]. Two ideas lie at the core of the principle:<ref>Andrew Jordan & Timothy O'Riordan. Chapter 3, The precautionary principle: a legal and policy history, in [http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/91173/E83079.pdf The precautionary principle: protecting public health, the environment  and the future of our children] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108221257/https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/91173/E83079.pdf |date=8 January 2023 }}. Edited by: Marco Martuzzi and Joel A. Tickner. World Health Organization 2004</ref>{{rp|34}}
* 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 principle it is the responsibility of an activity-proponent to establish that the proposed activity will not (or is very unlikely to) result in significant harm.
* The concept of proportionality of the risk and the cost and feasibility of a proposed action.

One of the primary foundations of the precautionary principle, and globally accepted definitions, results from the work of the [[Rio Conference]], or "[[Earth Summit]]" in 1992. Principle 15 of the [[Rio Declaration]] notes:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unep.org/Documents.multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=78&ArticleID=1163|title=Rio Declaration on Environment and Development|author=UNEP|access-date=29 October 2014|archive-date=4 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904221831/http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?documentid=78|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

{{Blockquote|text=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]].|title=|source=Rio Declaration, 1992}}

In 1998, the [[Wingspread Conference on the Precautionary Principle]] was convened by the Science and Environmental Health Network and concluded with the following formulation,<ref name="SEHN-Wingspread">Staff, Science and Environmental Health Network. 26 January 1998 [http://www.sehn.org/wing.html Wingspread Conference on the Precautionary Principle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051102060553/http://www.sehn.org/wing.html |date=2 November 2005 }}</ref> described by [[Stewart Brand]] as "the clearest and most frequently cited":<ref name=":5" />

{{Blockquote|text=When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof.|title=|source=}}

In February 2000, the [[Commission of the European Communities]] noted in a ''Communication from the Commission on the Precautionary Principle'' that "The precautionary principle is not defined in the [[Treaties of the European Union]], which prescribes it [the Precautionary Principle] only once – to protect the environment. But in practice, its scope is much wider, and specifically where preliminary-objective-scientific-evaluation indicates that there are reasonable grounds for concern that potentially dangerous effects on the environment, human, animal or [and] plant health may be inconsistent with the high level of protection [for what] chosen for the Community."<ref name=EU-Comm-PP>Commission of the European Communities.  2 February 2000 [http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-00-96_en.htm Communication From The Commission on the Precautionary Principle]</ref>{{rp|10}}

The January 2000 [[Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety]] says, in regard to controversies over [[GMO]]s: "Lack of scientific certainty due to insufficient relevant scientific information ... shall not prevent the Party of [I]mport, in order to avoid or minimize such potential adverse effects, from taking a decision, as appropriate, with regard to the import of the living modified organism in question."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/2000/01/20000129%2008-44%20PM/Ch_XXVII_08_ap.pdf |title=Official text of the Cartagena Protocol |publisher=United Nations |date=29 January 2000 |access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref>{{rp|6}}

[[Pope Francis]] makes reference to the principle and the Rio Declaration in his 2015 [[encyclical letter]], ''[[Laudato si']]'', noting that alongside its environmental significance, the precautionary principle "makes it possible to protect those who are most vulnerable and whose ability to defend their interests and to assemble incontrovertible evidence is limited".<ref>Pope Francis, [https://www.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si_en.pdf Laudato si'], paragraph 186, published 24 May 2015, accessed 1 May 2024</ref>