Environmental risks and future generations: Criteria for public policy

Conference · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6721725

Howarth, R B

This paper examines alternative normative approaches to the policy challenges posed by long-term environmental problems such as toxic and radioactive waste disposal, stratospheric ozone depletion, and climate change. The paper argues that cost-benefit analysis is limited in its ability to handle the issues of intergenerational equity and uncertainty that are intrinsic to such problems. Also considered is the precautionary principle, which holds that policies should seek to reduce threats to the welfare of future generations if the costs of doing so would not significantly reduce the subjective well-being of existing persons. Although the precautionary principle depends on an explicit value judgement, it yields a policy criterion that is operationally decisive under a wide array of circumstances.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: SEI; Stockholm Environment Inst. (Sweden)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 6721725
• Report Number(s): LBL-32993; CONF-9210256-1; ON: DE93004691
• Resource Relation: Conference: Conference on clean water and the American economy, Arlington, VA (United States), 19-21 Oct 1992
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
WASTE DISPOSAL
OZONE LAYER
DECOMPOSITION
CLIMATIC CHANGE
CONTAINERS
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
PUBLIC POLICY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RISK ASSESSMENT
STRATOSPHERE
TANKS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LAYERS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
290300* - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety
052002 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety
540110