This commentary explores the challenges in radiation safety that derives from the inherent complexity of social-ecological systems. The framework needed to address the challenges acknowledges the characteristics of wicked problems in this era of postnormal science. My objective for this piece is to summarize relevant characteristics of social-ecological systems that underscore the importance, even the necessity, of adopting a holistic approach to radiation safety. This work builds on several publications that have come out of the ecosystems approach working group of the International Union of Radioecology. The nature of wicked problems is that they require meaningful engagement among diverse groups of affected stakeholders so that negotiated consensus regarding assessment and management for radiation safety can be achieved. I conclude by stating that this approach is complementary to the reference animal and plant approach, that it is consistent with the views for postnormal science, and it conforms with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) that were adopted in 2015.
Keywords: Wicked problems; postnormal science; radiation safety; reference animal and plant (RAP); social–ecological systems.