The Introduction of the Precautionary Principle in Danish Environmental Policy: The Case
of Plant Growth Retardants |
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Authors: | Søren Løkke Per Christensen |
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Institution: | (1) Environmental Assessment and Governance Group, Department of Development and Planning, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark |
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Abstract: | In this paper, we investigate the Precautionary Principle (PP) in action. Precaution is a fairly new concept in environmental
policy. It emerged back in the 1960s but did not consolidate until the 1980s, as it formed part of the major changes taking
place in environmental policies at that time. The PP is examined in three contexts. Firstly, we look at the meaning of the
concept and how it is disseminated through the media and public discourses to the political arenas of Denmark. Then we examine
how the idea is adopted to the political level. Thirdly, we look briefly at the first Danish translation of the principle
into a practical context, which includes translations into concrete scientific practices. It is concluded that if the PP shall
be more than a simple “idea” or a frequently used “term,” emphasis must be put on the transformation of the concept into concrete
practices, like e.g., the alternative testing regimes that we show in the case of plant growth-retarding pesticides presented
in this paper. |
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Keywords: | environmental policy expert knowledge pesticides regulation plant growth retardants Precautionary Principle testing regimes |
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