Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

The precautionary principle still generates much discussion on its definition and its suitability to address environmental risks. Until now, the defense of the precautionary principle has focused on a vague and widely applicable version of it, related to ethical concepts and thought for addressing major general problems like climate change. Although the principle itself is important to gather international consensus, we propose to work at national level on closer precautionary rules (as defined by R. Dworkin) in order to address narrower risks, including partial potential effects related to climate change. Thereby, some relevant controversial issues related to risk and uncertainty could be avoided by focusing on a more traditional discussion on the rule of Law and the powers of State.