Flood prevention, food safety, the transport of hazardous substances, infectious diseases, the risk of new technologies and many other threats to public health and the environment call for ongoing public alertness. However, the ways in which these safety risks are currently assessed and managed fall short in addressing the uncertainties of future threats. The Scientific Council for Government Policy, the official think-tank for the Dutch government, argues that in order to ensure future-proof safety policies, a new paradigm should be adopted. This paradigm is based on the precautionary principle, i.e. the notion that the vulnerability of humans, society and the natural environment requires a proactive approach to uncertainties. In this report, the Council suggests ways to embody this principle in both private and public law and in various institutional arrangements
Flood prevention, food safety, transport of hazardous materials, infectious diseases, the risks posed by new technologies, and many other threats to public health and the environment call for ongoing public alertness. However, the ways in which these safety risks are currently assessed and managed fall short of addressing the uncertainties of future threats. The contributors to this essential volume argue that in order to ensure future-proof safety policies, we should be adopting a new paradigm, one based on the precautionary principle: i.e. the notion that the vulnerability of humans, society and the natural environment requires a proactive approach to uncertainties. In this vital report, the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy outlines ways to embody this principle in both private and public law and in various institutional arrangements. - Het voorkomen van overstromingen, de betrouwbaarheid van de kwaliteit van voedsel, het transport van gevaarlijke stoffen, besmettelijke ziekten, het risico van nieuwe technologieën en tal van andere bedreigingen voor de volksgezondheid en het milieu roepen om een voortdurende alertheid. Echter, de wijze waarop deze veiligheidsrisico's die momenteel worden beoordeeld en beheerd, blijven achter bij de aanpak van deze onzekerheden en mogelijke toekomstige bedreigingen. De Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid, de officiële denktank voor de Nederlandse regering, stelt dat met het oog op veiligheidsbeleid in de toekomst, er een nieuw paradigma gewaarborgd moeten worden. Dit nieuwe paradigma zou gebaseerd moeten worden op het voorzorgsbeginsel, dat wil zeggen dat de kwetsbaarheid van mensen, samenleving en natuurlijke omgeving, een proactieve aanpak van onzekerheden vereist. In dit verslag stelt de Raad voor om dit principe belichamen, zowel in privé- als publiekrecht en in verschillende institutionele regelingen.
Flood prevention, food safety, transport of hazardous materials, infectious diseases, the risks posed by new technologies, and many other threats to public health and the environment call for ongoing public alertness. However, the ways in which these safety risks are currently assessed and managed fall short of addressing the uncertainties of future threats. The contributors to this essential volume argue that in order to ensure future-proof safety policies, we should be adopting a new paradigm, one based on the precautionary principle: i.e. the notion that the vulnerability of humans, society and the natural environment requires a proactive approach to uncertainties. In this vital report, the Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy outlines ways to embody this principle in both private and public law and in various institutional arrangements.
