ABSTRACT
The debate over precaution and the “precautionary principle” (PP) has riveted policymakers, scholars, business leaders, advocacy groups, and citizens. As we detailed in Chapter 1, this debate has been fought on both normative and descriptive terms: as a battle over the best approach to regulating risks, and as a transatlantic contest for leadership. Is Europe the new global regulator? Which is “more precautionary,” the United States or Europe? This book has attempted to answer that question, and to critique it. We have sought to respond to the rhetoric of precaution with the reality of precaution.
