Can the Precautionary Principle be used in government decision-making?
Yes. Everyday our local governments make decisions that affect our well-being and the well-being of future generations. By using the Precautionary Principle we can begin to make wiser decisions in the face of uncertainty. Examples of governmental bodies using the Precautionary Principle include: • The County and City of San Francisco has adopted an ordinance for the use of the Precautionary Principle. The first implementation of the ordinance has been applied to purchasing decisions. • The Los Angeles and Boston Unified School Districts have adopted the Precautionary Principle to limit pesticide use in schools. • Legislation has been introduced in New York that would apply the Principle to state funded new technologies. • Massachusetts is considering Precautionary Principle legislation governing the phase-out of certain chemicals. • Internationally, the Precautionary Principle is being applied to govern genetically modified organisms and some toxic chemicals.
