Zandvoort H
Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands.
Water Sci Technol. 2005;52(6):43-50.
Two conditions are stated that must be fulfilled to make sure that the negative effects of environmental pollution and risks stemming from the spread of free markets and technology do not outweigh the beneficial effects of this development. (1) For all activities, all those who may experience the negative effects of the activities must have given their consent to the activities and the conditions under which they are performed. (2) Those who engage in activities without this consent must be held to unlimited and unconditional liability for the negative effects that the activities may cause for those who did not give their consent. These conditions are necessary principles for the responsible management of environmental harm and risks. If the conditions are not satisfied, then the belief that the global spread of free markets and technology is beneficial for all, or does not harm anyone, cannot be justified. Neither of the conditions is fulfilled at present. This is illustrated using examples drawn from international legislation regarding liability for oil transportation, energy production, genetically modified organisms and chemicals in the environment. Directions for improving existing liability legislation are identified. The relationship between the conditions and the precautionary principle is explained.
文中陈述了两个必须满足的条件，以确保环境污染的负面影响以及自由市场和技术传播所带来的风险不会超过这种发展的有益影响。（1）对于所有活动，所有可能受到活动负面影响的人必须已同意这些活动及其开展的条件。（2）未经这种同意而从事活动的人，必须对这些活动可能给未给予同意的人造成的负面影响承担无限和无条件的责任。这些条件是对环境危害和风险进行负责任管理的必要原则。如果这些条件得不到满足，那么认为自由市场和技术的全球传播对所有人都有益或不会伤害任何人的观点就无法成立。目前这两个条件都未得到满足。这一点通过从关于石油运输、能源生产、转基因生物和环境中化学品责任的国际立法中选取的例子得以说明。文中还确定了改进现有责任立法的方向。同时解释了这些条件与预防原则之间的关系。
