International Environmental Politics and Policy

  The Precautionary Principle was adopted at the Rio Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. It has since been incorporated into European Union law while this has not happened in the United States. Read and O’Riordan discuss how the precautionary principle is being undermined by industry interests. A) What does the precautionary principle mean, i.e. how does it inform policymaking? B) The innovation principle has been suggested as an alternative approach. Explain who is advocating it and what it means, i.e. how it differs from the precautionary principle? C) In practical terms, there are limits to the usefulness of the PP. Explore this question (no politically correct answer)?