Abstract
The issue of the impact of human activities on the stratospheric ozone layer emerged in the early 1970s. But international regulations to mitigate the most serious effects were not adopted until the mid-1980s. This case holds lessons for addressing more complex environmental problems. Concepts that should inform discussion include “latency,’ ‘counter-factual scenario based on the Precautionary Principle,’ ‘inter-generational burden sharing,’ and ‘estimating global costs under factual and counter-factual regulatory scenarios.’ Stringent regulations were adopted when large scientific uncertainty existed, and the environmental problem would have been prevented or more rapidly mitigated, at relatively modest incremental price, but for a time delay before more rigorous Precautionary measures were implemented. Will history repeat itself in the case of climate change?
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Molina, M. J. and Rowland, F. S. (1974) “Stratospheric Sink for Chlorofluoromethanes: Chlorine Atom-Catalysed Destruction of Ozone,” Nature, 249, 810–812, 28 June 1974.
Commission of the European Communities (2000) “Communication from the Commission on the Precautionary Principle,” February 2, 2000, p. 11.
Ha-Duong, M., Mégie, G., and Hauglustaine, D. (2003) “A Pro-Active Stratospheric Ozone Protection Scenario,” Global Environmental Change-Human and Policy Dimensions, 13(1): 43–49.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mégie, G., McGinn, R. From stratospheric ozone to climate change: Historical perspective on precaution and scientific responsibility. SCI ENG ETHICS 12, 596–606 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-006-0060-5
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-006-0060-5