Disparagement of Climate Change Research: A Double Wrong - Ethical Engineering for International Development and Environmental Sustainability - page 169

As this is a logarithmic measure of alkalinity rather than acidity, it amounts to some
26 percent increase of acidity on a linear scale.

1.2.1 The Precautionary Principle

Any detraction of climate science implies denial of the validity of the precautionary
principle underlying the Rio Declaration of 1992.
The Parties should take precautionary measures to anticipate, prevent or minimize the
causes of climate change and mitigate its adverse effects. Where there are threats of serious
or irreversible damage, lack of full scientifi c certainty should not be used as a reason for
postponing such measures, taking into account that policies and measures to deal with cli-
mate change should be cost-effective so as to ensure global benefi ts at the lowest possible
cost. (Article 3 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change )

The principle comprises basic concepts such as:

• Preventative anticipation: a willingness to take action in advance of scientifi c
proof of evidence.
• Duty of care or onus of proof on those who propose change.
• Promotion of the cause of intrinsic natural rights as well as payments for past
ecological debt (Kriebel et al. 2001 ).

The response of those unconvinced of the urgency of taking measures to counter-
act climate change is to call attention to the fact that structures are in place to assess
any potential risks. As decision makers have a tendency to request certainty before
measures can be approved, it may be argued that the defi ning feature of the precau-
tionary principle is that it 'places a governmental entity in a role as a risk gate-
keeper' (Sachs 2011 : 1298).

1.2.2 The Planetary Boundaries Declaration

The October 2011 Planetary Boundaries Declaration , drawn up at Exeter University
along the lines proposed by the Stockholm Resilience Centre (Rockström et al.
2009 ), identifi es the limits of nine earth system processes, intended to guarantee 'a
safe operating place for humanity'. These were not to be exceeded, if life was to
continue with avoidance of mass extinctions. The processes in question are (1) the
stratospheric ozone layer, (2) biodiversity, (3) the dispersion of chemicals, (4) cli-
mate change, (5) ocean acidifi cation, (6) freshwater consumption and the global
hydrological cycle, (7) land system change, (8) nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to
the biosphere and oceans and (9) atmospheric aerosol loading. Nos. 2, 4 and 8 have
already been surpassed; see Stockholm Resilience Centre's website for a symbolic
representation of these separate though interconnected threats ( 2012 ).
The Declaration proposes the creation of a global governance framework capa-
ble of protecting the well-being of present and future generations and of the natural
world. The draft states among other things: 'we are all responsible for safeguarding