The changing nature of communication and regulation of risk in Europe

The regulation and communication of risk have changed significantly over the past 20 years or so, partially as a result of a number of regulatory scandals in Europe and elsewhere, which have led to greater public distrust of regulators and policy‐makers. This increase in public distrust has resulted in a phasing‐out of consensual‐style regulation, and the emergence of a newer model of regulation based on variables including public participation, transparency and increasingly powerful non‐governmental organisations (NGOs). This paper discusses some of the consequences of adopting this new model of regulation through a series of case studies.