Abstract
This paper analyzes the prospects for introducing the precautionary principle in water protection policy. In situations where a problem enters the political agenda and scientific uncertainties remain about causes or effects, political actors can justify state intervention based on the precautionary principle. It allows for public action even if risks related to the problem remain unclear. While the precautionary principle is widely applied in health and environmental policy fields all over the world, the mechanisms leading to its adoption are not fully understood. To close this gap, the paper investigates decision-makers preferences for the precautionary principle and further asks: Which factors promote political actors’ preferences for precautionary policy measures? In order to answer this question we study the case of emerging micropollutants—a water quality issue that recently entered political agendas, where many uncertainties remain about sources and effects. We rely on data gathered through a standardized survey among the political elite in Switzerland, which represents one of the first countries that adopted policy measures to reduce micropollutants in water bodies, despite the uncertainties that remain. Results analyzed through a temporal network autocorrelation model reveal that actors embedded in collaborative governance arrangements have the tendency to prefer precautionary action. Certain aspects of policy design, such as problem prioritization and target group membership, also impact the prospects for introducing the precautionary principle.
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Notes
We employ the term “social interactions” as an umbrella term which includes different types of relations between actors such as collaboration, negotiations, advice-seeking, information exchange.
http://www.fischnetz.ch/index_e.htm (last access on August 21, 2017).
http://www.snf.ch/en/researchinFocus/nrp/nrp50-endocrine-disruptors-relevance-to-humans-animals-andecosystems/Pages/default.aspx (last access on August 21, 2017).
Population equivalent of more than 100,000.
Population equivalent of 10,000 to 100,000.
A total of 12 actors reported having a common position or not having participated enough to respond to the survey questions; another six actors (i.e., federal agencies who must formally partake in consultations internal to the government, but who do not necessarily have a stake in the issue of aquatic micropollutants) only partly responded to the survey; three actors did not reply.
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Acknowledgement
This work was suppported by the Swiss National Science Foundation. The authors would like to thank Laurence Brandenberger for her advice.
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Appendix: Actor list
Appendix: Actor list
Full name | Type of actor |
---|---|
Swiss Association for Agricultural Development and Rural Areas | Science, laboratories, consulting |
Western Swiss Association for Water and Air Protection | Environmental association |
Federal Office for the Environment, Department of Air Protection and Chemicals | National-level state actor |
Federal Office for the Environment, Department for Water | National-level state actor |
Federal Office for Health | National-level state actor |
Federal Office for Agriculture | National-level state actor |
BMG Engineering AG | Science, laboratories, consulting |
Conference of Cantonal Directors of Construction, Planning and Environmental Protection | Cantonal-level state actor |
Cercl’eau | Cantonal-level state actor |
Christian Democratic People’s Party | Political party |
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology | Science, laboratories, consulting |
Economiesuisse | Trade association |
Sewage Treatment Plants in Large Cities Initiative | Municipalities, cities, water or wastewater association |
Free Democratic Party. The Liberals | Political party |
University of Applied Sciences of North-West Switzerland | Science, laboratories, consulting |
Swiss Fishery Association | Environmental association |
Swiss Green Party | Political party |
Western Swiss Group of Sewage Treatment Plants Operators | Municipalities, cities, water or wastewater association. |
Basel Chamber of Commerce | Trade association |
Hunziker-Betatech | Science, laboratories, consulting |
Scienceindustries | Trade association |
Consumer Forum | Consumer association |
Communal Infrastructure | Municipalities, cities, water or wastewater association |
Conference of Heads of Cantonal Offices for Environmental Protection | Cantonal-level state actor |
Competence Network of Cantonal Laboratories for Water and Environmental Protection | Cantonal-level state actor |
Ecotox Centre | Science, laboratories, consulting |
Pro Natura | Environmental association |
Swiss Farmers’ Association | Trade association |
Swiss Trade Association | Trade association |
Swiss Cosmetics and Detergent Association | Trade association |
Swiss Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Industry Association | Trade association |
Swiss Social Democratic Party | Political party |
Swiss Gas and Water Industry Association | Municipalities, cities, water or wastewater association |
Swiss People’s Party | Political party |
University of Basel | Science, laboratories, consulting |
University of Lausanne | Science, laboratories, consulting |
National Council’s Committee on the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy | Legislature |
Council of State’s Committee on the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy | Legislature |
Association of Cantonal Chemists of Switzerland | Cantonal-level state actor |
Swiss Water Association | Municipalities, cities, water or wastewater association |
World Wide Fund For Nature Switzerland | Environmental association |
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Metz, F., Ingold, K. Politics of the precautionary principle: assessing actors’ preferences in water protection policy. Policy Sci 50, 721–743 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-017-9295-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-017-9295-z