John C. Caesar * Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Guyana, &

1. Advancing the Precautionary Principle: Should utility regulation consider ecological and health impacts beyond water? John C. Caesar*Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Guyana, & Public Utilities Commission, 298 Church Street, Georgetown, Guyana Email: jccaesar@yahoo.com OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

2. Disclaimer • Personal professional views based on knowledge gleaned from analysis of a range of research-based reports; • Detailed encounter with the Principle has been within the sphere of CBD, Biosafety Protocol and environmental policy instruments; • Presentation not a formal endorsement of my Commission • No intention to generate fear! • An ethical attempt to encourage discussion among utility regulators OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

3. No intention to generate fear! OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

4. Overview • Brief introduction to the nature of science • Science & technology nexus vs. inherent risks in technology deployment & use • The Precautionary Principle • Applications of the Precautionary Principle in MEA/Environmental/Health Policies • Issues of uncertainty in technologies deployed by utilities – Electricity & Telecommunications • A partially philosophical discourse tinged with issues surrounding the socio-politics of the “uncertain” eco-health impacts – role of science-based policymaking • Can the Precautionary Principle find a “cautionary space” in utility regulation? OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

5. Understanding the Science-Technology nexus Science-technology Primer: A brief journey OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

6. The nature of science • It is determined by observation, hypothesis, measurement, analysis and experimentation • It is the description and explanation of the development of knowledge OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

7. Definitions • Concerned with discovering relationships between observable phenomena in terms of theories. • Systematized theoretical inquiries • It seeks for truth about nature. • Latin root "scientia," meaning “knowledge” OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

8. Einstein’s Definition “Science is the attempts to make the chaotic diversity of our sense experience correspond to a logically uniform system of thought.” (Albert Einstein 1940) OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

9. The Scientific Method? OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

10. OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

11. The limitations of science? “Science is a product of the human senses and thehuman mind and that is why there could be no science in the absence of an intelligent being like a human or any other intelligent creature like him. And therein lies the limitation of science; the limitation of the human senses and the limitation of the human mind.” Limitations of Technology? OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

12. Defining Technology • Technology is both a PROCESS and a PRODUCT • “The intelligent organization and manipulation of materials for useful purposes.” • Technology is the application of science in provisioning for human needs and wants – human advancement & development. OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

13. Defining Technology Technology can be viewed as: • The material products derived from human fabrication • The product of any scientific concepttranslated/transformed into materials & products of utilitarian value • A product of the complex combination of knowledge, materials and methods. OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

14. Goals of Technology • Improvement of the quality of human condition • Provisioning for human needs and wants • Human advancement • Human development • Human well-being? OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

15. Goals of technologies deployed by utilities • Provisioning for human needs and wants • Human advancement • Human development • Human well-being? • Economic enterprise (neoclassical versus ecological economics?) OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

16. 22 Framing Precaution OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

17. Framing The Precautionary Principle “Benefiting from technological progress invariably has to be weighed against any potential risk that might be posed by the new technology.” - Shaw & Schwartz 2005 - Trading precaution: The Precautionary Principle and WTO OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

18. Benefitsversus Risks of Technology____________________________Imbibed moderately, red wine’sresveratrol is beneficial to the heart; But excessive alcohol is risky to health! OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

19. Evolution from Ethno-precautionary Taboos? Origins?: “The precautionary principle is an age-old concept. Unambiguous reference to precaution as a management guideline is found in the millennial oral tradition of Indigenous People of Eurasia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and Australia.” - Philippe Martin (1997, p. 276): If You Don’t Know How to Fix It, Please Stop Breaking It. Foundations of Science, 2, 263−292. OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

20. The Precautionary Principle Fodder for Debate as per the title of this paper: Debating the Precautionary Principle: "Guilty until Proven Innocent" or "Innocent until Proven Guilty"? - Henk van den Belt. 2003in:Plant Physiology volume 132 pp 1122 - 1126 OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

21. The Precautionary Principle Enshrined in various Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) Most notable the Biosafety Protocol regulating GMOs. OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

22. The Precautionary Principle OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

23. Different branding/views OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

24. Fast-forward: The Science of Biotechnology Meets the Politics of Global Regulation HENRY I. MILLER & GREGORY CONKO on agricultural biotechnology in 2007 “Global regulation should be guided by science, not unsubstantiated fears.” OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

25. Concerns from EMF/RF research? A small sample of some of the research papers: • Tinnitus and mobile phone use • Systematic review and meta-analysis of psychomotor effects of mobile phone electromagnetic fields • Use of mobile phones and changes in cognitive function in adolescents • What can be learned from the Japanese study of mobile phone use and acoustic neuroma? • Interference by new-generation mobile phones on critical care medical equipment • Electromagnetic Field Treatment Protects Against and Reverses Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer’s Disease Mice OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

26. Electromagnetic Field Treatment Protects against and Reverses Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer’s Disease Mice Gary W. Arendashaet al 2010 Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease 19 (2010) 191–210 OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

27. Concerns from EMF/RF research? • EMF/RF effects on cancer ? – heated debate • EMF/RF effects on cognition? • EMF/RF effects on spermatogenesis? • EMF/RF effects on DNA? • EMF/RF effects on amphibians • EMF/RF effects on birds – issues of ecosystem services provided by birds/ecological integrity. • EMF/RF effects on bees – issues of ecosystem services provided by bees/ecological integrity. OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

28. Are concerns = Precaution? Are uncertainties = Precautionary Principle?Does the debate justify “Do nothing” approach? OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

29. Addressing EMF/RF Concerns “Researchers tend to agree that these types of effects, such as cancers, alteration of DNA, or cognitive alterations, cannot be rejected a priori, but require further, more extensive research.” – Espluga 2005 - Int. J. Global Environmental Issues, Vol. 5, Nos. 1/2, 2005 OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

30. “Traditionally, risk management relies on scientific evaluation in order to obtain the most objective data possible as the basis for decision making. However, in the case of cell phone EMFs, there is still a large degree of uncertainty surrounding the scientific research.” - Espluga 2005 OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

31. The Precautionary Principle COMEST World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

32. The Precautionary Principle: UNCED Rio 1992 “Where there are threats of serious of irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.” OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

33. The Precautionary Principle:The Wingspread Statement 1998 “When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. “In this context, the proponent of the activity, rather than the public, should bear the burden of proof.” OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

34. Professor Cass Sunstein’s view “The precautionary principle, for all its rhetorical appeal, is deeply incoherent. It is of course true that we should take precautions against some speculative dangers. “But there are always risks on both sides of a decision; inaction can bring danger, but so can action.” OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

35. Is there a “cautious role” for the Precautionary Principle in Utility Regulation?Perhaps we cannot neglect these issues any longer? OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

36. Thank you for your attention OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica

37. Acknowledgements I thank the Chairman, Justice PremPersaud, my other colleagues, BadriePersaud and Maurice Solomon, whose camaraderie I continue to enjoy. The Commission made it possible for me to be here with you today. OOCUR2010 Conference Jamaica