the Precautionary Approach

The Precautionary Approach is a strategy used to address potential risks when dealing with uncertain situations, especially in environmental and public health matters. It advocates taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty, rather than waiting for scientific proof that something is harmful. This means that if an action or policy could lead to significant harm to the public or the environment, and there is no consensus on its safety, it is better to err on the side of caution and implement measures to prevent possible harm.