On the use of the precautionary principle in the context of the hydrogen systems

EasyChair Preprint 15968

Abstract

The precautionary principle is a way to manage risk in situations where the risk could be characterized as high and uncertain. It suggests that precautionary measures should be taken, or the activity should be avoided if the consequences of the activity could be severe and are subject to scientific uncertainties. Over the past decade, the precautionary principle has become a fundamental part of international environmental conventions and European Union (EU) laws. However, even though the precautionary principle is widely used, the formulation of this principle remains vague and controversial, with ongoing challenges in its practical application and polarized views on its effectiveness. These potential limitations should be addressed when considering the use of the principle in the management of hydrogen systems. There is a strong drive to develop such systems, as hydrogen represents a promising clean energy source, which presents both opportunities and uncertainties related to safety and infrastructure development. To better understand the complexity and controversies around the precautionary principle, we review various ways to understand this principle and the rationale behind its use and discuss its application in different situations. Based on the discussion, we provide some recommendations for managing risks associated with hydrogen systems.

Keyphrases: Hydrogen systems, precautionary principle, risk management

@booklet{EasyChair:15968,
  author    = {Dikshya Bhandari and Jon Tømmerås Selvik and Ingrid Glette-Iversen and Eirik Bjorheim Abrahamsen},
  title     = {On the use of the precautionary principle in the context of the hydrogen systems},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint 15968},
  year      = {EasyChair, 2025}}