PARENT SESSION
TP1b LCA and comparative risk assessment
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, Tuesday, 08 May 2001
Session Chair: O. Jolliet
Room 1

(224) RESEARCH PLAN FOR FOSTERING THE RATIONAL INTEGRATION OF HUMAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES .

Fava, James ¹, Heckman, John¹, Thomas, Wylie¹, Biddinger, Greg², Jaworska, Joanna³, Pittinger, Charles³, ^{1 2 3}

ABSTRACT- The purpose of this paper is to describe a research plan to advance the state-of-the-practice regarding the integration of human and environmental considerations in public and private decision-making processes. The plan addresses steps to ensure that appropriate environmental, social and economic aspects are considered, understood, and evaluated in decision-making. This plan was developed under the direction of the American Chemistry Council's (formerly, the Chemical Manufacturers Association) Long Range Research Initiative (LRRI). In today's society, developing new products and technologies, or siting new facilities and communities demands an appreciation of competing risks and the trade-offs in risks that will result from any action taken. As part of the decision-making process, organizations are being asked to balance programmatic and business objectives with diverse risks to the environment and human health across complex natural systems and business life cycles. Through a consultative and interactive process with a group of international experts, questions were raised as to the adequacy of the technical capacity of the public, private, and academic sectors to more fully integrate human and environmental considerations (including comparative risk information) into decision-making processes. To achieve such capacity, skilled personnel, appropriate analytical tools and adequate data are essential. Using the results of both one-on-one interviews and a knowledge-based facilitated workshop, specific research ideas were developed. The resulting research plan is being communicated to interested parties who can advance the rational integration of human and environmental considerations in public and private decision-making processes

Key words: comparative risk assessment, research planning, stakeholder values, decision making.