The lecturer is careful to point out that the precautionary principle

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

When evaluating the statement about the precautionary principle, it helps to unpack what the principle is generally understood to mean in policy and risk management.
Option a: 'May not always be very clear but is still useful.' This captures a common critique and strength of the precautionary principle: it can be somewhat vague in specific situations, yet it serves as a practical guide to action when there is potential for serious or irreversible harm. The emphasis on usefulness despite ambiguity aligns with how many scholars and practitioners treat precaution as a flexible guideline rather than a rigid rule.
Option b: 'Only applies when the context is very clear.' This is misleading, because the precautionary principle is most relevant precisely in situations of uncertainty or when the risk is uncertain or poorly understood. Its value is in guiding precautionary action in the face of ambiguity, not in contexts that are already clearly understood. Therefore, this statement undercuts the core purpose of the principle.
Option c: 'Can help prove who or what is under threat.' This option misinterprets the purpose of the precautionary principle. It is about guiding decisions to avoid harm under uncertainty, not about providing proof or identifying which entity is under threat. It is a policy approach, not a forensic tool for attribution or verification.
Overall, the reasoning behind the principle emphasizes cautious action amid incomplete knowledge, recognizing that ambiguity does not negate the possibility of harm and that proactive measures can be warranted even when evidence is not definitive.

ME Mod4 Intake 2A - 14 Apr 2025 - 4 Jul 2025 Activity 8.4A/B - Practice Listening Quiz 3

The lecturer is careful to point out that the precautionary principle

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