Toward the 21st Century: Summary Report
Toward the 21st Century: Planning for the Protection of California's Environment
How can policymakers and the public decide which resources to dedicate to which problems?
One proposed way to prioritize environmental problems -- and develop viable solutions -- is through "comparative risk assessment." In this process, environmental problems are categorized, analyzed, and then ranked in terms of their relative severity. Such rankings help policymakers identify the environmental problems in their area, decide which ones pose the greatest relative risk, and structure the debate about priority-setting.
To help identify and structure environmental priorities, the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) sponsored the California Comparative Risk Project (CCRP). The end product of this two and a half-year process is a final report to Cal/EPA which, together with public comment, will be used to assist its planning. Equally important, the CCRP expands the methods of past comparative risk projects using innovative approaches.
This summary report provides an overview of the methods and findings of the committees of the CCRP.