If genetically modified organisms are to contribute to welfare they must be considered in the context of sustainable development. Biosafety implies considering the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainable development. These dimensions can be interpreted through the principles of precaution, polluter pays and public participation. In this article, these key biosafety principles are operationalised and ways of implementing them in society is discussed. A comparison is made between the principles and the present EU law for deliberate release of GMOs. It is concluded that several improvements in the EU policy are necessary to ensure sustainable development really is promoted
In spite of stricter provisions in the new EU directive on deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), critics still advocate a moratorium on permits for cultivation of GMOs. However, in an attempt to meet concerns raised by the public, the directive explicitly gives Member States the possibility to take into consideration ethical aspects of GMOs in the decision-making. This article investigates the potential effects of such formulation by means of an empirical analysis of experiences gained the last years from similar Swedish regulations for GMOs, aiming at promoting sustainable development. The faulty implementation shown in the Swedish case indicates that legal stipulations for ethics as such have limited importance. It is suggested that public participation is an important factor for successful implementation of the ethics of sustainable development
The thesis is concerned with the problematic question on how to manage complex environmental risks in a way that promotes sustainable development. While there are some positive signs on progressive and successful environmental policy, environmental change resulting from human activities still causes severe problems and risks worldwide.Environmental risks are conventionally handled through a process in which experts try to quantitatively assess, evaluate and manage risks. This approach harmonises with mainstream interpretations of sustainable development, aiming at describing and prescribing a certain relationship between human and natural systems, for instance by policies that define limit values for pollutants.Often, however, scientific incertitude (risk, ambiguity, uncertainty, ignorance) and diverging social values and norms as well as distrust, challenge such policies. The thesis describes this dilemma by an investigation of public risk policies in Sweden and the European Union for hazardous chemicals and genetically modified organisms.Against this background, and in the light of new ideas on the notion of risk from social sciences, a new, complementary interpretation of the concept of sustainable development is suggested. This, in turn, is operationalised by help of new formulations of three principles for improving public risk management; the precautionary principle, the polluter pays principle and the principle of public participation.Implementation of these principles would challenge present mainstream views on environmental decision-making. Thereby the thesis aims to contribute to the growing number of voices that ask for sustainable development in not only rhetoric, but also practices for long-term human welfare and planetary survival
Use of chemical substances and genetically modifed organisms cause complex problems characterised by scientifc uncertainty and controversies. Aiming at sustainable development, policies for assessment, and management of risks in the two areas are under development in the European Union. The article points out that both science and norms play a central role in risk assessment as well as risk management and suggests that the precautionary principle, the principle of public participation, and the polluter pays principle, all adopted in the European Union, offer a way to operationalise the concept of sustainable development. It is shown, however, that a number of steps ought to be taken to better implement the principles through different policy measures. In doing so, and by recognising the role of both science and norms, the decision-making on risks related to the use of chemicals or genetically modifed organisms can be improved to better promote sustainable development
The precautionary principle is one of the most contested principles in the debate on the new EU chemicals legislation. The purpose of this paper is tooperationalise the principle and to investigate the consequences of its application. Five core elements of precautionary management of chemicals are derived and traced in Swedish policy and legislation through history. It is shown that precautionary measures were required as early as the eighteenth century. The conclusion is drawn that these measures in Sweden seem to have promoted sustainable development from both an environmental and a socio-economic point of view
The present levels of particles in the air present a serious health problem in Sweden and legal quality standards for particles are violated. The article analyses if the environmental quality standard is possible to maintain by present legislation, if the standard is based on scientific facts concerning which types of particles that are most hazardous, and if the proposed legally based action programme for counteracting particle concentrations in Stockholm beyond the limits is effective. It suggests developed legislation, a new standard for fine particles and increased focus on traffic reducing measures, if the standards are to be maintained
The polluter pays principle is a world-wide principal cornerstone for polluter accountability in environmental policy. It is a prerequisite for avoiding the establishment of too destructive industrial plants. According to EU legislation, the polluter is supposed to pay for both preventive measures and remediation related to adverse effects on human health and the environment. That said, much remains to be decided when implementing the principle in practice. This paper investigates the operationalisation of the polluter pays principle in relation to negative effects associated with nuclear power. More and less predictable quantities of radioactive pollution will pose uncertain risks to an unknown number of future human beings. How can polluter accountability be assessed and valued? Who should make these decisions and in what ways? These questions are discussed in relation to the development of the risk discourse in society since the early days of the nuclear epoch. To conclude, the new risk context leads to a questioning of present policy regimes and brings a set of new regulatory ideas to the fore