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Revisiting the precautionary principle under the light of 2002-2003 French and international events

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  • Olivier Godard

    (CECO - Laboratoire d'économétrie de l'École polytechnique - X - École polytechnique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Revisiting a selection of national (the Charter of the Environment in France) and international (the preventive war launched by the United States against Iraq) 2002-2003 events, the paper reminds the sustained confusion between two concepts: the Precautionary Principle and the Abstention Rule. It then supports the idea that there is no basic antagonism in practical rationalities of risk management across the Atlantic Ocean. But there is a fundamental opposition in each region between two basic usages of the Principle either to promote a progress in settling coordinated action for common concerns or to justify unilateral actions departing from an existing agreed common regime.

Suggested Citation

  • Olivier Godard, 2003. "Revisiting the precautionary principle under the light of 2002-2003 French and international events," Working Papers hal-00242979, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-00242979
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-00242979v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gollier, Christian & Jullien, Bruno & Treich, Nicolas, 2000. "Scientific progress and irreversibility: an economic interpretation of the 'Precautionary Principle'," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 229-253, February.
    2. Erwann Michel-Kerjan, 2003. "New Challenges in Critical Infrastructures : A US Perspective," Working Papers hal-00242947, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jessica Stern & Jonathan B. Wiener, 2006. "Precaution Against Terrorism," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(4), pages 393-447, June.
    2. Ragnar E. Lofstedt, 2007. "The 'Plateau-ing' of the European Better Regulation Agenda: An Analysis of Activities Carried out by the Barroso Commission1," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(4), pages 423-447, June.

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