Precautionary Principle

Quick definition

The precautionary principle holds that when an action may cause serious harm, lack of full scientific certainty is not a reason to delay protective measures.

What it means in practice

Precaution supports choosing safer alternatives, requiring stronger proof of safety, or pausing risky actions when potential harm is high, uncertain, or difficult to reverse.

Why it matters for rights of nature

Ecosystems can cross thresholds before science reaches certainty. Precaution aligns with protecting nature’s rights before damage becomes irreversible.

Related Terms

Balancing of Interests

Balancing of interests means nature’s interests are included and weighed as legally cognizable interests – without assuming nature automatically wins every conflict.

Beneficial Use

Beneficial use is a water-law principle that ties water rights to recognized uses, rather than allowing water to be hoarded.

Cause of Action

A cause of action is the specific legal claim that lets a court hear your case, what law was violated and what the plaintiff is entitled to ask for.

Declaratory Judgment

A declaratory judgment is a court decision that clarifies legal rights and duties, declaring what the law means and how it applies, without necessarily ordering immediate action.

Due Process

Due process is the legal requirement that government actions affecting rights follow fair procedures, and in some contexts, be substantively fair.

Duty of Care

A duty of care is a legal obligation to act reasonably to avoid causing foreseeable harm.

Related updates

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Quebec Town Recognizes Rights of Trees

June 24, 2026

The Wye looking downriver from the Brockweir Bridge spanning Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire. Photograph: Nick Jenkins/Alamy

River Wye Rights Charter Marks a UK First for River Protection

June 3, 2026

Mouth of the Klamath River, emptying into the Pacific Ocean. In 2019, the Yurok Tribe recognized the inherent right of the Klamath River to exist, flourish, and naturally evolve.

Tribal Nations Are Leading the Way on River Rights. The Rest of U.S. Law Is Still Catching Up.

April 9, 2026

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