Voluntary Initiatives, Regulation, and Nanotechnology Oversight - Neuer PEN-Report
Ein neuer Report des Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) des Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars erkundet verschiedene Möglichkeiten zur Erfassung und Regelung von Nanoprodukten und -prozessen auf freiwilliger Basis. Der Bericht "Voluntary Initiatives, Regulation, and Nanotechnology Oversight: Charting a Path" von Dr. Daniel Fiorino, Direktor des Center for Environmental Policy bei der American University, gibt einen Rückblick über freiwillige Ansätze im Umweltschutz und bewertet deren Anwendbarkeit bei den Nanotechnologien. Er zeigt einige interessante Möglichkeiten.
(Excerpts from the Executive Summary) The rapidly growing field of nanotechnology and its products poses new and interesting challenges to environmental policy-makers and institutions. In one sense, these challenges, which include such issues as limitations in data and uncertainty about many health and environmental effects, are typical of those of earlier generations of chemicals management.
At the same time, nanotechnology is representative of a newer generation of environmental issues whose consequences are difficult to predict, rapidly evolving, dependent on technology change and innovations and not usually amenable to conventional regulatory solutions and strategies.
Existing policy assessments have analyzed and offered recommendations on the available and appropriate regulatory strategies for managing potential health and environmental effects of materials, products and processes arising from nanotechnology. These assessments have made it clear that government regulation in some form will play a necessary and crucial role. Government will be involved in assessing potential risks, defining oversight structures and systems, promoting transparency, protecting workers, informing the public and generally steering the responsible development of the industry.
The nature of nanotechnology as a rapidly growing and constantly evolving sector makes it an excellent application for voluntary initiatives. Their role would not be to replace government regulation, however, but to inform regulation and to complement existing and future actions. The flexibility, adaptability, relative ease of implementation and potential for constructive engagement of multiple parties commend them as a part of an oversight strategy.
Building on the analysis of voluntary environmental initiatives in the report the author suggests a variety of actions for stakeholders:
- The Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies should develop multi-year strategies with both regulatory and voluntary actions.
- They should assess the experience with voluntary initiatives—on chemicals and more generally—and build any lessons into program designs.
- They should proceed with mandatory reporting under the appropriate legal authorities but also consider how well-designed voluntary data collection initiatives may enhance and expand upon those efforts.
- Government, business and non-government organizations should consider creating a multi-stakeholder Nano Stewardship Council modeled generally on such collaborative mechanisms as the Forest Stewardship Council. It would provide a neutral forum for discussing nanotechnology issues and serve as a clearinghouse for information. Nanotechnology firms and business organizations should build upon the foundations of The Nano Risk Framework and Nano Risk Code to expand and extend the capacities of the industry for managing potential risks.
- Investors and insurers could promote progress on voluntary initiatives by incorporating participation in and commitment to credible voluntary initiatives into their decision-making.
Source and Report Download: Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies