Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Benefits and Risks of Environmental
Nanotechnologies
Dialogue Opportunities
Ineke Malsch, Malsch TechnoValuation,
www.malsch.demon.nl
CEFIC Stakeholder Dialogue, 24 June 2008
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Table of contents:
1. Introduction
2. ObservatoryNano project opportunities
3. Current debate on environmental
nanotechnologies
4. Precaution versus proaction
5. Information requirements civil society
6. Possibilities of exchange between the societal
groups to meet these information requirements
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Business centre Vondelparc II,
Malsch TechnoValuation’s activities Vondellaan 90, 3521 GH Utrecht,
The Netherlands
include:
www.malsch.demon.nl
Current EU projects:
 ObservatoryNano, Ethicschool
(nanoethics)
 IPCNanoNet, NanoforumEULA
(R&D cooperation with Latin
America)
Finished EU projects:
 Nanoforum, EuroIndiaNet and
 NanoroadSME.
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
•This talk presents civil society perspective about issues
surrounding environmental technologies
•I don’t represent any NGO
•I am in favor of responsible technology development
•I present information on societal acceptance of
environmental nanotechnology by different stakeholders &
in different parts of the world
•And make suggestions on improving the stakeholder
dialogue
Mission
To create a European Observatory on Nanotechnologies to present
reliable, complete and responsible science-based and economic expert
analysis, across technology sectors, establish dialogue with decision
makers and others regarding the benefits and opportunities, balanced
against barriers and risks, and allow them to take action to ensure that
scientific and technological developments are realized as socio-economic
benefits.
•
16 partners from 10 European States
•
€4M over 4 years
•
Started 1st April 2008
•
Will bring together leading EU policy and decision-makers: EC, government,
industry, leading institutes, NGOs with the purpose of helping shape future
strategies.
EC
WP3
WP4
WP5
WP6
Economic Impacts
Ethics
EHS
Regulation
WP8
Communication
WP2
Science and Technology Assessment
Intranet
WP1 observatoryNANO
Database
Website
WP7 Establishment of Observatory
WP9 Project Management
USERS
Regular project outputs:
• Annual reports on scientific and technical developments
• Annual reports on economic developments
• Annual reports on ethical and societal issues
• Annual reports on environment, health and safety issues
• Annual reports on standards and regulations
Also:
Ethical toolkit
Partners:
Institute of Nanotechnology
IoN
UK
VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH
VDI-TZ
DE
Commissariat à l'énergie atomique
CEA
FR
Institute of Occupational Medicine
IOM
UK
Malsch TechnoValuation
MTV
NL
triple innova
triple innova
DE
Spinverse
Spinverse
FI
Bax & Willems Consulting Venturing
B&W
ES
Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
RIVM
NL
Technical University of Darmstadt
TUD
DE
AIRI/Nanotec IT
AIRI
IT
Nano and Micro Technology Consulting
NMTC
DE
Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs und Forschungsanstalt
EMPA
CH
Nanoethics Centre, Aarhus
AU
DK
MERIT, Universiteit Maastricht
MERIT
NL
Technology Centre AS
TCASCR
CZ
For further information please visit www.observatory-nano.eu
Or contact the coordinator, Dr Mark Morrison, mark.morrison@nano.org.uk
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Current debate on environmental nanotechnologies:
-Opportunities of nanotechnologies in:
-Environmental remediation;
-Environmental monitoring;
-Resource efficiency.
-Risks of free engineered nanomaterials in the
environment.
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Responsible nanotech R&D: Precaution vs Proaction
Precautionary approach is mainly risk averse – the status quo is
good – prepare for worst case in future impacts
Example: EC Code of Conduct, 2008
Solution is Risk Assessment
Proactionary approach balances risks & benefits – the status quo is
not perfect – try to improve it in a responsible way for sustainable
development:
-R&D cooperation natural and social scientists
- Engage earlier in R&D process in stakeholder dialogue to codecide on the priorities (upstream engagement)
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Information requirements:
- Trade Unions:
- Are nanomaterials present at work?
- How to protect oneself against potential risks?
- Environmental Organisations:
- What are potential exposure scenarios of the
environment, plants and animals to nanomaterials
during the whole life cycle?
- What is the realistic potential of nanotechnology for
contributing to sustainable development
(remediation, monitoring, resource efficiency)?
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Information requirements:
Consumers:
- Labelling products with nano-inside (freedom of choice).
- Are adequate safety measures taken?
- Is the product more attractive/better/cheaper than alternatives?
What is the advantage to me?
Parliaments:
- Are there common standards and terminology for
nanotechnology?
- What gaps in knowledge exist and what must be done to fill
them? Who will pay for the research?
- Are competent authorities equipped to control nanosafety?
- Are existing regulations relevant for nanotechnology?
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Information requirements developing countries and
emerging economies:
- Protection of workers and consumers in less developed
countries to risks of nanomaterials - access to industrial and
western government expertise in offshoring and export of
Western products?
- Adequate maintenance and support in the developing country?
- Potential contributions of environmental nanotechnology to
sustainable development?
- Implications for commodities markets of nanotech improved
resource efficiency? (Meridian Institute, USA)
- Will western industry invest in R&D and innovation in
developing countries?
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Possibilities of exchange between the societal groups to
meet these information requirements:
- In public debate in the media;
- In public events organised by neutral organisations;
- By responding promptly and openly to questions from
societal groups and governments (e.g. DEFRA voluntary
submission scheme);
- By cooperating with ObservatoryNano project.
Malsch
Techno
Valuation
Environmental Nano
Conclusions:
The Current debate on environmental nanotechnologies
covers opportunities as well as risks;
There are precautionary as well as proactionary approaches
to managing these opportunities and risks;
Different groups in civil society have different information
requirements;
Exchange can take place in public dialogue as well as
projects including ObservatoryNano.