Reactive Clauses: Time, Risk, and Trigger Logic

Enabling Clause Execution Based on Dynamic Events, Threshold Crossings, and Coordinated System Triggers

3.5.1 Why Reactive Clauses?

Not all governance logic should be executed manually or on static input. In high-stakes, distributed, and risk-intensive environments—like disaster response, financial disbursement, or emissions monitoring—clauses must be:

• Event-triggered

• Threshold-sensitive

• Time-aware

• Linked to sensor data, simulations, and smart contracts

NSF defines Reactive Clauses as Smart Clauses that activate based on validated, observable conditions, rather than direct agent invocation.

---

3.5.2 Reactive Clause Definition

A Reactive Clause in SCL includes:

sclCopyEdittrigger: onEvent("SensorUpdate") where floodIndex > 0.85

Or:

sclCopyEdittrigger: onTime("0 0 * * *") if policyWindow == "active"

Or:

sclCopyEdittrigger: onThresholdCross("EmissionLevel", jurisdiction="NL") if value > 50.0

Each clause execution is:

• Cryptographically validated

• Traceable in CAC and audit layers

• Linked to source of truth (simulation, oracle, credential)

---

3.5.3 Trigger Types in NSF

Trigger Type	Description	Example
Time-based	Executes on schedule or time window	Daily water quality check
Threshold-based	Fires on numeric, categorical, or logical boundary	Disaster risk index > 0.9
Event-based	Linked to data input, contract call, or simulation signal	DAO vote completed
Sensor-based	Executes upon validated EO/IoT data	River gauge anomaly
Credential-based	Activated when agent receives/loses credential	MedicVC revoked
Simulation-based	Triggered by forecast outcome match	Heat index forecast exceeds tolerance
Jurisdiction-based	Conditional activation by location	Clause active in country “IN”

---

3.5.4 Trigger Validation and Anti-Spoofing

All triggers are:

• Authenticated via DID or signed oracle

• Checked against governance-configured policies

• Stored in Audit Layer with timestamp and proof of origin

• Executed only within TEE or ZK-compatible environments

Example:

sclCopyEdittrigger: onEvent("Oracle::USGS::SeismicTrigger") where magnitude > 6.0

Is permitted only if the data source is signed and verified under:

• Credential: USGSDataProviderVC

• Enclave integrity proof

• Governance approval for cross-jurisdictional sensor execution

---

3.5.5 Time and Recurrence Control

Clauses can define:

• Fixed schedules: daily, weekly, fiscal quarters

• Rolling conditions: 7-day moving average, annualized emissions

• Recurrence limits: max 1 execution per day or once per policy cycle

• Silence windows: prevent re-trigger during cooldown

Example:

sclCopyEdittrigger: every("6 hours") if rainfall7DayAvg > 80mm

Combined with simulation outputs and policy windows, time-aware clauses become predictive and enforceable.

---

3.5.6 Threshold-Based Risk Activation

Reactive Clauses may reference real-time or simulated values:

sclCopyEdittrigger: onThreshold("ClimateRiskModel.FloodProbability") > 0.85

Or:

sclCopyEdittrigger: onIndexCross("CropYieldIndex", jurisdiction="KE") where zscore < -2.5

All thresholds:

• Are defined in the clause or bound via parametric resolution

• Must be governance-reviewed if risk class ≥ 3

• Produce signed CACs with full variable trace

• May be linked to anticipatory finance, early warning, or emergency coordination

---

3.5.7 Trigger-Aware Credential and Contract Hooks

Reactive Clauses can:

• Issue or revoke credentials based on triggered execution

• Activate smart contracts (e.g., payouts, DAO votes, fund disbursement)

• Signal governance actions (e.g., clause override proposals)

Example:

sclCopyEditonTrigger: revokeCredential("CropInsuranceActiveVC")
and callContract("DisburseRelief@Polygon::USD") with {
    beneficiary: farmerDID,
    amount: $200
}

Trigger paths are sandboxed and execution-limited per DAO policy or jurisdictional enforcement.

---

3.5.8 Trigger Simulation and Foresight Validation

For high-risk domains, reactive clauses must:

• Include a simulation model of potential triggers and impacts

• Define trigger precision and recall (to avoid false positives/negatives)

• Use ZK simulation audits to prove trigger fairness and non-manipulability

• Undergo multi-actor governance signoff before becoming executable

This prevents policy triggers from being exploited, spoofed, or misconfigured.

---

3.5.9 Trigger Forking, Jurisdictional Overrides, and Escalation Paths

Triggers can be:

• Overridden by DAO governance votes

• Scoped to specific geographies (e.g., “only trigger if in EU jurisdiction”)

• Escalated to override clauses (e.g., “payout suspended pending review”)

• Throttled by domain-specific rules (e.g., emissions clause only triggers once per reporting cycle)

Overrides must be:

• Signed

• Registered in the GCR

• Anchored to cause (e.g., simulation mismatch, policy error, conflict detection)

---

3.5.10 Reactive Clauses as Executable Risk Memory

In NSF, governance is not just about static rules—it’s about reacting to the world.

Reactive Clauses ensure that:

• Governance is real-time

• Rules are responsive

• Policies are simulation-bound

• Triggers are verifiable and auditable

• Trust is not based on hope, but on machine-verifiable events

Every clause that reacts, logs:

• What triggered it

• Where it came from

• Who governed its scope

• What action was taken

• And how to reverse, escalate, or override

Reactive Clauses turn governance from code-on-paper into code-on-condition.

---