Integrating the Concepts of Zero Greenhouse-Gas Emissions, the Precautionary Principle, and Environmental Impact Statements for Climate Change Policy Mitigation

This article explains the need to integrate the concepts of (a) zero greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions, (b) the precautionary principle, and (c) environmental impact statements (EISs) to improve climate change mitigation. Across the United States, governments and corporations are adopting positions with the intent to reach zero GHG emissions in some specified year. The first section of this article clarifies how GHG emitting and carbon removing technologies are involved in the concept of net zero GHG emissions. Following that is a discussion of the precautionary principle that needs to be adopted for climate change mitigation. The precautionary principle originated when it became understood that scientific proof of the causes and extent of harmful environmental damage was often not possible until after it was too late to prevent the damage. In turn, analysis should be carried into EISs, which are documents that specify the impact of proposed projects on the environment. EISs are required reports mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to assess the potential impact of actions affecting the quality of the human environment.