The release and use of toxic substances, the exploitation 
of resources, and physical alterations of the environment 
have had substantial unintended consequences affecting 
human health and the environment. Some of these concerns 
are high rates of learning deficiencies, asthma, cancer, 
birth defects and species extinctions; along with global 
climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion and worldwide 
contamination with toxic substances and nuclear materials. 

We believe existing environmental regulations and other 
decisions, particularly those based on risk assessment, 
have failed to protect adequately human health and the 
environment - the larger system of which humans are but 
a part. 

We believe there is compelling evidence that damage to 
humans and the worldwide environment is of such magnitude 
and seriousness that new principles for conducting human 
activities are necessary. 

While we realize that human activities may involve hazards, 
people must proceed more carefully than has been the case 
in recent history. Corporations, government entities, 
organizations, communities, scientists and other individuals 
must adopt a precautionary approach to all human endeavors. 

Therefore, it is necessary to implement the Precautionary 
Principle: 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 an activity, rather than 
the public, should bear the burden of proof. 

The process of applying the Precautionary Principle must 
be open, informed and democratic and must include potentially 
affected parties. It must also involve an examination of 
the full range of alternatives, including no action. 

Wingspread Participants: 

(Affiliations are noted for identification purposes only.) 

Dr. Nicholas Ashford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Katherine Barrett, Univ. of British Columbia
Anita Bernstein, Chicago-Kent College of Law
Dr. Robert Costanza, University of Maryland
Pat Costner, Greenpeace
Dr. Carl Cranor, Univ. of California, Riverside
Dr. Peter deFur, Virginia Commonwealth Univ.
Gordon Durnil, attorney
Dr. Kenneth Geiser, Toxics Use Reduction Institute, Univ. of Mass., Lowell
Dr. Andrew Jordan, Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global
Environment, Univ. Of East Anglia, United Kingdom
Andrew King, United Steelworkers of America, Canadian Office, Toronto, Canada
Dr. Frederick Kirschenmann, farmer
Stephen Lester, Center for Health, Environment and Justice
Sue Maret, Union Institute
Dr. Michael M'Gonigle, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Dr. Peter Montague, Environmental Research Foundation
Dr. John Peterson Myers, W. Alton Jones Foundation
Dr. Mary O'Brien, environmental consultant
Dr. David Ozonoff, Boston University
Carolyn Raffensperger, Science and Environmental Health Network
Hon. Pamela Resor, Massachusetts House of Representatives
Florence Robinson, Louisiana Environmental Network
Dr. Ted Schettler, Physicians for Social Responsibility
Ted Smith, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition
Dr. Klaus-Richard Sperling, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Hamburg, Germany
Dr. Sandra Steingraber, author
Diane Takvorian, Environmental Health Coalition
Joel Tickner, University of Mass., Lowell
Dr. Konrad von Moltke, Dartmouth College
Dr. Bo Wahlstrom, KEMI (National Chemical Inspectorate), Sweden
Jackie Warledo, Indigenous Environmental Network