The Washington Toxics Coalition embraces the Precautionary Principle as the basis of our approach to human and environmental health. In its simplest form the Precautionary Principle calls for thoughtful decision-making to prevent potential harm to humans or the environment. This section of our website explains the philosophical foundation that supports our work and shows how it is being put into practice around the world.

State of Washington

Washington has two major policies that apply a precautionary approach to issues related to the environment. The following examples make a strong case for explicitly endorsing the Precautionary Principle as the underlying foundation for decision-making by the state government.

1. The Washington State Growth Management Act. This policy applies to situations when there is incomplete scientific evidence about whether a development or land use action could harm established critical habitat areas. In such cases, this legislation directs cities and counties to use "a precautionary or a no risk approach, in which development and land use activities are strictly limited until the uncertainty is sufficiently resolved."

2. Washington State Department of Ecology's Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxins (PBT) Program. Ecology's PBT program advocates for moving away from risk assessment and toward "precautionary approaches based on scientific data for addressing PBTs." It explicitly adopts the Precautionary Principle as one of the policy's guiding principles:

"Most regulatory programs currently embody approaches that require agencies to quantify the problems caused by low levels of toxic chemicals before taking actions to prevent those effects. Consequently reasonable preventative measures are often delayed because scientists are unable to precisely define all of the complex interactions between toxic release and environmental danger. More precautionary approaches are needed to prevent the environmental harm associated with PBTs."

City of Seattle

The City of Seattle currently has a number of policy statements and resolutions that apply a precautionary approach to issues related to the environment. The following examples make a strong case for explicitly endorsing the Precautionary Principle as the underlying foundation for decision-making in city government.

1. The City of Seattle's Endorsement of the Earth Charter. Section 6 of the Earth Charter states that the City should "... prevent harm as the best method of environmental protection and, when knowledge is limited, apply a precautionary approach."

More specifically, the Earth Charter encourages its endorsers to:

1. Take action to avoid the possibility of serious or irreversible environmental harm even when scientific knowledge is incomplete or inconclusive.
2. Place the burden of proof on those who argue that a proposed activity will not cause significant harm, and make the responsible parties liable for environmental harm.
3. Ensure that decision-making addresses the cumulative, long-term, indirect, long distance, and global consequences of human activities.
4. Prevent pollution of any part of the environment and allow no buildup of radioactive, toxic, or other hazardous substances.
5. Avoid military activities damaging to the environment.

In September 2002, the Seattle City Council and Mayor Greg Nickels formally endorsed the Earth Charter and pledged their intention to be "... assertively working towards the realization of its aims so that we can assure a healthy future for our community and for our earth."

2. The Office of Sustainability and Environment Mission Statement. The Office of Sustainability and Environment emphasizes the importance of preventing pollution and integrating long-term economic, environmental, and social costs and benefits into City plans. Its mission is consistent with the precautionary approach and pledges "to provide the leadership, tools and information to help City government and other organizations use natural resources efficiently, prevent pollution and improve the economic, environmental and social well-being of current and future generations."

3. The City of Seattle Purchasing Policies. The City of Seattle Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Policy directs City departments to choose alternative products that prevent harm and states, "The City shall promote the use of environmentally preferable products in its acquisition of goods and services."

Several resolutions apply to this overall policy, which specify that departments should make purchasing decisions to achieve the following goals:

• To increase the procurement of recycled and recyclable products (Resolution #28737);
• To improve efficiency of water and energy use (Resolution #29048);
• To reduce products which result in hazardous pollution during manufacture, use, or disposal (Resolution #29268); and
• To reduce products that result in persistent toxic pollution, i.e. pollution from persistent bioaccumulative toxins or PBTs, and to instead favor alternatives, such as penta-free utility poles, chlorine-free paper and non-PVC office products (Resolution #30487).

These broad purchasing policies are now being implemented for specific types of products. For example, the policies have guided a proactive set of environmental criteria for janitorial products to ensure the health and safety of city workers (City of Seattle's Environmental Criteria for Janitorial Products). Other product-based decisions impacted by the city's purchasing policies include computer and printer purchasing, battery disposal, and the selection of office supplies (reports related to purchasing and city contracts).

4. The City of Seattle Environmental Action Agenda. This policy articulates the City's goals for protecting environmental quality, promoting environmental justice, and improving quality of life in Seattle for current and future generations. More specifically, the Action Agenda calls for careful monitoring and reporting of environmental impacts:

"The agenda creates a framework for integrated City environmental action, robust tracking and reporting, coherent communication on environmental issues and links environmental stewardship, economic development and social equity.

5. The City of Seattle's Pesticide Reduction Program. This program works to prevent dangerous pesticide exposures by setting target goals, which set important milestones for creating a safer and healthier environment. The two main goals of the program are:

1. To eliminate the use of the most potentially hazardous herbicides and insecticides, and
2. To achieve a 30 percent reduction in overall pesticide use.

6. The City of Seattle Comprehensive Plan. The City of Seattle has encouraged meaningful public participation in developing its Comprehensive Plan. Since before 1994, local residents have been empowered to envision what types of amenities, such as parks or transportation, they would need to support this growth in this planning process

7. The Seattle Precautionary Principle Working Group White Paper (80kb PDF file). Submitted by the Seattle Precautionary Principle Working Group to the City of Seattle and King County for consideration as an amendment to the 2004 City and County comprehensive plans.

King County, Washington

King County's growing population and unique environment have encouraged proactive policies that protect the environment and promote public health. Active programs compatible with a precautionary approach include the following five programs:

1. Hazardous Waste Management. This program provides residents and small businesses with education and collection services for hazardous waste. The program is an example of taking anticipatory action to prevent harm and is self-described as "an intensive effort to reduce and properly manage that waste through education, collection, and technical assistance."

2. Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Both the City of Seattle and King County are working to reduce pesticide use on public lands managed by the City and County by using an alternative pest control method, called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The IPM strategy is an example of choosing safer alternatives and is defined by the County as:

"A holistic approach to pest (including weed) management. IPM stresses the prevention of pest problems through design and maintenance practices, and uses a range of pest management techniques, including biological, cultural, and mechanical, with chemical controls as a last resort."

"Products that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products that serve the same purpose. This comparison may consider raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal of the product."

4. The Smart Growth Initiative. In 2003 King County initiated a program called Smart Growth, designed to encourage low-impact development and to reduce the environmental impact of housing projects, as directed by the Built Green Ordinance (Built Green website). Demonstration Smart Growth projects will feature green building construction principles and "emphasize recycled materials, energy efficiency, natural habitat protection, and other environmentally friendly construction practices."

5. Public Education Programs. King County is a recognized leader in public education. The County has received two awards from the Environmental Education Association of Washington. The King County Park System won the "Organizational Excellence Award," and the County's School and Youth Program of the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program won the "Community Catalyst Award." King County has also formed a partnership with the nonprofit Nature Vision, which "will keep environmental education classes alive in King County schools." Effective public education on health and the environment is a critical element underlying the success of the Precautionary Principle.

Given that Seattle and King County are inclined to use a precautionary approach, including the Precautionary Principle within their respective Comprehensive Plans would make for more consistent local government. Furthermore, a precautionary approach would ensure that the City of Seattle and King County sustain a high quality environment and protect public health for residents.

San Francisco

White Paper: The Precautionary Principle and the City and County of San Francisco. Recounts the history of the Precautionary Principle worldwide and the development of San Francisco's Precautionary Principle, implemented in March 2003. Discusses the scientific, ethical, and economic implications of the principle with examples from existing precautionary policies. 21 pages, 2003. Contact San Francisco Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone 415-355-3700; website www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfenvironment.

San Francisco Environment Precautionary Principle effort -- San Francisco's Less Toxic Pest Management, Less Toxic Purchasing, and Green Building programs are working examples of the Precautionary Principle.

San Francisco Precautionary Principle Ordinance

Portland, Oregon

The Oregon Center for Environmental Health - Advocated use of the Precuationary Principle in Oregon. OCEH precautionary principle information.

"On September 23, 2004, public health and environmental advocates celebrated victory as the Portland City Council and Multnomah County pass a Precautionary Principle resolution." Learn more.

"On April 20, 2004, the OCEH partnered with the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) of Portland and Multnomah County to sponsor the Precautionary Principle Workshop: A New Approach for Protecting Human Health and the Environment." Learn more.

Other Locations and Organizations

Principle 15, United Nations Rio Declaration on Environment

Treaty of the European Union

Physicians for Social Responsibility (National PSR)

Los Angeles Unified School District (Second largest district in the United States)

American Public Health Association -- The Precautionary Principle and Children's Health (see section 200011)

Berkeley City Council Resolution, October 2003, which also called for the development of a Precautionary Principle ordinance, beginning with an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy within a year.

American Nurses Association -- On Oct. 14, 2003, the board of directors of the American Nurses Association (ANA) unanimously approved the following recommendations:

1. ANA will broaden its work in occupational and environmental health and apply a precautionary approach when an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment.
2. ANA will advocate for public policy that utilizes the precautionary approach that focuses on prevention of hazards to people and the natural environment. (In their executive summary they provided background information on the Precautionary Principle and said: "The Precautionary Principle states that if it is within one's power, there is an ethical imperative to prevent rather than merely treat disease, even in the face of scientific uncertainty.")

1. Take action to avoid the possibility of serious or irreversible environmental harm even when scientific knowledge is incomplete or inconclusive.
2. Place the burden of proof on those who argue that a proposed activity will not cause significant harm, and make the responsible parties liable for environmental harm.
3. Ensure that decision-making addresses the cumulative, long-term, indirect, long distance, and global consequences of human activities.
4. Prevent pollution of any part of the environment and allow no buildup of radioactive, toxic, or other hazardous substances.
   Avoid military activities damaging to the environment.