Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2017

 

Environmental Justice in the Context of the Uncertainty of Science: Discussions on the Question of Transgenic Biosafety

(Abstract)

 

Wang Mingyuan and Jin Feng·

 

Coping with the risks arising from scientific uncertainty and achieving and maintaining environmental justice is a core frontier issue. Public administration needs to undergo a transformation from the traditional administration of order and welfare, most of which is based on certainty, into modern risk administration based on uncertainty, and the pursuit of justice needs to change from formal and actual substantive justice into procedural justice. Against the background of scientific uncertainty, the environmental justice represented by transgenic bio safety needs to be based on the relevant scientific research; in essence, however, it is a social construct. The research, development, application and dissemination of modern science and technology, including transgenic biotechnology and its products, should maintain a free market. At the same time, in order to protect public security and maximize the interests of disadvantaged groups, the necessary governmental intervention and legal controls should be imposed on the relevant scientific and technological activities.