Sponge: Set up Cornell Notes on pg. 15
Topic: 4.4 The Precautionary Principle
Essential Question: A “climate change
denier” tells you that global warming has
happened in the past, and this period of
increasing temperature is no different. What
is your response? (at least a paragraph) Top
1/2 of p. 60
BIOZONE: 185-188
4.4 The Precautionary Principle
A “climate change denier” tells you that global
warming has happened in the past, and this period of
increasing temperature is no different. What is your
response? (at least a paragraph) Top 1/2 of p. 60
Key Vocabulary:
The Precautionary Principle
P. 14
EQ- At least 1 paragraph
Precautionary Principle cartoon
P. 15
Responses from Climatologists
Challenges from critics
Precautionary Principle
Application
• Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing
climate change
Nature of Science:
• Assessing claims– assessment of the claims that human
activities are producing climate change
Are Humans causing climate change?
• Not everyone is convinced that climate change is happening, or
that it is caused by human activity
• “Climate change deniers”
• Have a number of criticisms about IPCC’s findings
Are Humans causing climate change?
• Opinions of climatologists and their critics
Challenges from Critics
Directions: For the next few slides read the challenges from
critics as well as the responses from climatologists
an·thro·po·gen·ic
ˌanTHrəpōˈjenik/
adjective
1.(chiefly of environmental pollution and pollutants)
originating in human activity.
2."anthropogenic emissions of sulfur dioxide"
Are Humans causing climate change?
In the end, climatologists make a clear
distinction between what is
politically controversial and what is
scientifically controversial
• The political debate:
– Often driven by non-scientific
arguments
– Look if the comments are motivated by
economic arguments
– *especially if they are associated with
industries that produce large quantities
of CO₂
Theory of Knowledge
• The precautionary principle is meant to guide decisionmaking in conditions where a lack of certainty exists. Is
certainty ever possible in the natural sciences?
The Precautionary Principle
• The Precautionary Principle: is an ethical theory which says
that action should be taken to prevent harm even if there is not
sufficient data to prove that the activity will have severe
negative consequences
• It also stipulates that if people wish to engage in an activity that may
cause changes in environment, they must first prove that it will not do
harm
The Precautionary Principle
• Without the precautionary Principle, industries and consumers tend to
proceed with their activities until it becomes clear that harm is being done
• When irrefutable proof is presented, usually action is taken to reduce the
activity in question.
International-mindedness:
• Release of greenhouse gases occurs locally but has a
global impact, so international cooperation to reduce
emission is essential
The Precautionary Principle
• With regards to Global Warming, tenets of the precautionary principle say
that preventative action should be taken NOW, before it is too late
• Preventative action must be taken WORLDWIDE to ensure that ecologically
friendly industries are not less economically viable than polluting companies
Prevention is better than CURE….
• It is often much less expensive to prevent a problem than to fix it
• “One of the most unjust results of human pollution is that many of those
who suffer its consequences are not the ones creating and contributing to
the problem”
• Innocent Animals/plants
Create-Your-Own Precautionary Principle Cartoon
• Create a cartoon about the Precautionary Principle on bottom of even
pg
• It can be general or specific to a certain topic