20 III Dialogue and Transparency in Decision-Making Local populations should have a special place at the table When business projects and ventures are being assessed, a free exchange of views (182) must occur and must be free of all economic or political pressure (183) so that the effects on people’s lives and health are taken into account from the planning stages; these concerns must transcend immediate economic interest (183). In this way we will stop thinking in terms of “interventions” to save the environment in favour of policies developed and debated by all interested parties...because honesty and truth (183) will be at the heart of discussion and debate. Questions that promote genuine integral development (185) should be asked: What will it accomplish?...For whom? What are the risks? What are the costs? Who will pay for these costs and how? (185) It must not be profit alone that determines innovation. Pope Francis recalls The Rio Declaration of 1992 which highlighted the precautionary principle (186) that should protect the environment from damage where projects cannot be proved safe. Of course, this does not mean that all development and innovation should be rejected, but it does mean that profit cannot be the sole criterion to be taken into account (187). Achieving a broad consensus about environmental issues between interested parties is not easy, and the Church does not presume to settle scientific questions or to replace politics (188), however, the Pope is concerned to encourage an honest and open debate so that particular interests or ideologies will not prejudice the common good (188). IV Politics and Economy in Dialogue for Human Fulfilment There is an urgent need for politics and economics to serve human life When our world financial systems have absolute power, we see that this gives rise to new crises after a slow, costly and only apparent recovery (189). We have missed the opportunity provided by the global financial crisis of 2007-2008 to reassess the outdated criteria which continue to rule the world (189), and develop new ways Is it realistic to hope that those who are obsessed with maximizing profits will stop to reflect on the environmental damage which they will leave behind for future generations? (190)
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