Originally signed in 2008 by ANSES (then AFSSET), INERIS, and IRSN—joined in 2011 by Irstea (then Cemagref) and Ifsttar—the Charter for Openness to Society has now been adopted by two new public institutions, BRGM and Santé publique France, which identify with its shared values and commitments.

By adopting this charter, the signatories commit to maintaining openness and transparency in their research, expert assessment, and/or risk evaluation processes; to improving the sharing of available scientific knowledge and the uncertainties surrounding it; and to better incorporating the contributions of societal stakeholders into research and/or risk evaluation processes.

The seven public institutions that have signed the charter are tasked, among other things, with providing the government with scientific and technical support regarding risks in the fields of health and the environment, with a view to aiding decision-making. The charter signed today aims to build, together with societal stakeholders, a shared understanding of the complex challenges posed by risk situations and the alternatives available to address them. It helps enhance the quality of the work these institutions provide to public decision-makers, as well as society’s trust in decision-making processes.

Download: View the Charter on Openness to Society (PDF, 390.6 KB)