To ensure we have a continued presumption towards maintaining our climate and conserving our environment it is commonly determined that governments and decision-makers globally should enact what is called the 'precautionary principle'(EU Lisbon Treaty 2009). This, in theory, should apply at both local and global levels to achieve a sustainable form of development worldwide.

The precautionary principle is an ethical guiding principle which states that if an action or implementation of a policy has the potential (in the absence of scientific consensus) to impact on the environment in a negative way and is therefore against the public good, then there should be a strong tendency for such developments not to go ahead. What this principle does is shift the burden of proof to the advocate or developer of a particular project or activity that is likely to impact on the environment.