Revisiting EFSA@EXPO: How can we advance environmental risk assessment?

Better framing of ERA

Setting the scene, Alan Gray of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in the UK presented an overview of significant recent advances and remaining challenges in the field. As ERA has moved from a science-led to a policy-led approach, a solid problem formulation The process of defining the specific problem being addressed in, for example, an environmental risk assessment. It involves articulating a question and defining how it may be answered (e.g. by identifying the endpoints to be measured). has become the important first step in the assessment process. This concept has led to a better framing of ERA, addressing fewer but more substantive questions.

Identifying specific and operational protection goals

What do we want to protect? Where do we want to protect it? And for how long? The answers seem easy: everything, everywhere, forever. But, as Lorraine Maltby of the University of Sheffield, UK, pointed out these answers are not tenable. She said that we need to develop a transparent and robust framework to help us decide what to protect and where. In other words, we need specific and operational protection goals.

Using ‘ecosystem services’ to help protect biodiversity

‘ Ecosystem services Benefits to human or animal populations provided by an ecosystem, such as food or fuel provision, natural medicinal ingredients, and maintenance of soil fertility.’ is a term used to describe the many ways people benefit from the environment. Glenn Suter of the Environmental Protection Agency, USA, explained that using this term has helped to make environmental protection more relevant to people. It has also helped to communicate better with political decision-makers and stakeholders on ecological risks. In his talk he used case studies to illustrate the concept of ecosystem A community of living organisms in conjunction with non-living components (e.g. air, water and mineral soil). A healthy ecosystem is a finely balanced system where animals, plants and microbes live in harmony with their environment. services and how it can be used to preserve biodiversity.

What do we need for good environmental risk assessment?

Jörg Romeis, of the Institute for Sustainability Sciences in Switzerland, had one answer: We need reliable studies producing reliable data. The studies designed to test risk hypotheses for ERA should be rigorous, objective and compliant with relevant quality standards. This increases confidence in the results and underpins the certainty of the conclusions drawn. High-quality studies facilitate reproducibility and increase acceptance, which in turn benefits regulatory authorities in their work.

Moderated Panel Discussion