The Precautionary Principle and Nanotechnologies Jan Nill, Ulrich Petschow

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The Precautionary Principle and Nanotechnologies
Jan Nill, Ulrich Petschow
European Workshop on Social and Economic Research
on Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences 14 / 15
April 2004, Brussels, European Commission
Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IÖW),
Berlin Institut für ökologische
Wirtschaftsforschung
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The precautionary principle and the approach of
characterisation of (nano)technologies

• European Union has adopted the precautionary
  principle as a concept for policy making under
  scientific uncertainty
• How to deal with uncertainty and risk of
  innovation?
• Risk management cannot be based solely on
  scientific knowledge relating to evidence of
  adverse effects
• Nanotechnologies Impact on EHS not yet
  predictable concern and first studies about
  adverse effects of nanoparticles
• ? The characterisation of technologies approach
• if impact assessment model is lacking, change
  direction of investigation from analysis of
  effects towards characterisation of agents
• Assessment criterion depth of intervention
• New powerful functionalities of nanotechnologies
  as starting point

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Characterisation of nanotechnology and
assessment approaches (I)
Source A.v.Gleich
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Characterisation of nanotechnology and
assessment approaches (II)

• Up to that point risk management approaches as
  in synthetic chemistry sufficient, but there
  may be also...

• moreover, of course, quantity and rate of
  intervention and sensitivity of target systems
  are important

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Nanotechnology, the precautionary principle, and
European policies

• 1st PP rule of thumb avoid release of nano
  particles
• Adaptation of existing regulation in a broad
  range of fields according to characteristics of
  technology, e.g.
• Type regulation of chemicals instead of particle
  mass - number and characteristics of particles
  important dealing with remanufacturing etc.
• Type regulation of genetically modified
  organisms containing risk
• 2nd rule of thumb enhance more sustainable
  applications (e.g. energy and material
  efficiency)
• Also elements of soft governance important
• Early inclusion of stakeholders (ex. GB),
• Governance by visions (e.g. inherent safe,
  resource efficient nanotechnology) and voluntary
  agreements

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Nanotechnology, the precautionary principle, and
further research needs

• Further research on EHS risk assessment
• e.g. release and behaviour of nano particles
• Further development of appropriate risk
  assessment approaches (e.g. linking of
  characterisation, LCA and other approaches)
• Develop innovation strategies coping with
  obstacles and opportunities to market
  introduction and diffusion of more sustainable
  applications
• Political time strategies, lead market strategies
  etc.
• Policy-oriented research on adaptation needs of
  existing regulations
• Especially problems of measurement and
  classification
• pollution control (air, water etc.)
• Health and work safety