precautionary principle
preh-KAW-shun-air-ee PRIN-suh-pul
prɪˈkɔːʃənɛri ˈprɪnsɪpəlListen
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Dictionary meaning
a guiding principle in environmental law and risk governance stating that where scientific uncertainty exists about the potential for serious or irreversible environmental or health harm, regulatory action should not be postponed while awaiting complete scientific certainty; codified in the Rio Declaration of 1992, the precautionary principle shifts the burden of proof towards demonstrating safety before proceeding rather than demonstrating harm after the fact; it is applied to decisions about chemical approvals, GMO releases, and ecosystem interventions
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