In 2018, RAMA founder (David Ball) was asked to act as convenor by Atomium – the European Institute for Science, Media and Democracy – of a project aimed at improving society’s management of risks.

The project acronym – CAPUR – stands for ‘Collaboration to explore new Avenues to improve Public Understanding and management of Risk’.

The motivation for the project was a perceived confusion over the aim of public risk interventions and ongoing confusion over risk and hazard in decision making.

It was felt that improved risk decision making would lead to better use of resources with improved public outcomes.

An international panel of leading risk experts was assembled, and it was quickly decided that what was needed was a set of guiding principles.

The principles are:

1. Risk decision making involves more than numbers

2. The concept of reasonableness must underpin all decisions.

3. There is an inextricable ethical dimension to risk decision making.

4. Risk elimination in public life is rarely sensible and potentially increases danger.

5. Risk communication should be integral to risk management activity.

6. It is necessary that policy makers examine the appropriateness of attempts to alter people’s behaviour.

7. Approaches to risk management must address the issue of trust in institutions.

8. Consideration should be given to participative (citizen) approaches to decision making and management of risk.

9. Risk literacy can be improved.

10. The role of vested interests should be made more transparent.

11. It should be recognised that all approaches to risk are provisional and are based upon currently available evidence and prevailing social mores.

More information can be found in the full report.