| Issue |
La Houille Blanche
Number 2, Avril 2008
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 52 - 54 | |
| Section | Variations climatiques et hydrologie : Stratégies d’adaptation | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/lhb:2008017 | |
| Published online | 27 May 2008 | |
Principe de précaution et évaluation des risques
Precautionary principle and risk assessment
Chef du service de la recherche et de la prospective. Ministère de l’écologie et du développement durable, 20 avenue de Ségur, 75302 Paris 07SP
Auteur de correspondance : eric.vindimian@ecologie.gouv.fr
The precautionary principle often triggered disappointing debates between scienticism and supposed opponents to any innovation. The French constitution expresses the precautionary principle as a positive action principle that encourages innovation. Science remains a strong lever to move from precaution to prevention which is an enlighted alternative to precaution. The role of decision makers is crucial for risk management, science being intrinsically not able to deliver a truth that would lead to a pure prevention situation. New risk governance methodologies linked with stakeholders and new economical tools for environmental regulation will certainly play a major role in the future and will trigger the phasing out of the debate on the precautionary principle.
© Société Hydrotechnique de France, 2008