Lecture: Advanced Environmental Assessments

Transcription

1 Lecture: Advanced Environmental Assessments Outlook and Feedback Stefanie Hellweg

2 Learning goals of the lecture 1. Ability to judge the scientific quality and reliability of environmental assessments appropriateness of inventory data and modeling, and adequacy of life cycle impact assessment models and factors 2. Knowledge about the current state of the scientific discussion and new research developments 3. Ability to properly plan, conduct and interpret environmental assessment studies. Knowledge of how to use environmental assessment tools as a decision support tool for companies, public authorities, and consumers Stefanie Hellweg

3 Class topics current status and short outlook Stefanie Hellweg

4 Allocation in multioutput processes and recycling Remains to be an important topic Subjectivity Latest release of ecoinvent v3 published several system models (not perfect, but allow sensitivity analysis) Stefanie Hellweg

5 LCA and decision support Importance of consequential modeling is widely recognized Problem is that it is difficult to model changes (many choices, often compromising transparency and connected with value judgments) Several recent research papers on using partial equilibrium models to model e.g. indirect land use Stefanie Hellweg

6 Input/output Analysis Multiple multi-regional IO databases (WIOD, Exiobase, EORA) Recent research on large-scale analysis of the environmental impacts of worldwide trade Top down studies about the environmental assessment of consumption available Stefanie Hellweg

7 Regionalization Upcoming theme, with most research on regionalized LCIA methods (land, water, soil, emissions to air) Two new entire LCIA methods in development (covering a multitude of impact pathways) with regionalization for most impact categories (LC-Impact, Impact Global) Regionalized inventories not as developed (but also some studies) Pilot research software exist that can handle regionalized LCI and LCIA (Brightway, OpenLCA); standard software tools do not yet offer possibility for regionalized assessments Stefanie Hellweg

8 Overall LCA framework developments Environmental interventions Impact categories Damage Damage categories Midpoints Endpoints Emissions (to air, water and soil) Resource extraction Climate change Ozone depletion Photochemical ozone creation Human toxic effects Ecotoxic effects Eutrophication Acidification Land stress Water stress Resource depletion Human Health Ecosystem Quality Resource Depletion Areas of Protection Stefanie Hellweg

9 Endpoints Human Health Generally accepted and consistent (even if with large uncertainties) Problems with system boundary (which impacts are social or economic rather than environmental)? Stefanie Hellweg

10 Endpoints Ecosystem Health Most approaches assess intrinsic value of biodiversity Some methods address human utility, e.g. functional diversity or ecosystem services Some recent research suggests to consider rarity and threat of species as weighting factors and uses global species extinction equivalents as unit Open points: How to account for missing species? Do all species/taxa have the same weight? All taxa the same weight? Stefanie Hellweg

11 Endpoints Ressources Not clear whether there exists natural scarcity Resources sometimes assessed in terms of cost; many stakeholders regard resources to be economic issue (intergenerational problem that should be assessed in the economic dimension of sustainability) Most recent approaches try to assess the declining quality of resources Question of how to evaluate dissipative use versus non-dissipative use Stefanie Hellweg

12 Life cycle impact assessment of chemical emissions Internationally harmonized model exists within LCIA (USEtox) and risk assessment (OECD model) Uncertainties are still very high and need to be reduced Regionalization would be important (but so far only considered in very few case studies); this is different for risk assessment Mixture toxicity in risk assessment and LCIA often not addressed (so far mainly a topic of research) Stefanie Hellweg

13 Workplace and indoor exposure Has been identified as a relevant topic LCIA methods and characterization factors became recently available (within USEtox) Inventory data is still missing (but is being gathered) Stefanie Hellweg

14 Data quality, uncertainty and sensitivity Standard practice Research Uncertainty analysis - Rarely performed - Implementation of Monte Carlo in DBs and LCA software - For individual studies - Common - Quantitative and analytical methods - Meta-analysis of whole databases Sensitivity analysis - Often not implemented systematically - Global and local sensitivity Stefanie Hellweg

15 Data transparency and subjectivity As LCA becomes more mainstreamed, more interests exist Transparency is one way to avoid manipulation Independent, external review another possibility (but in practice the reviewers are sometimes chosen by the author of the study). Some formalized frameworks to address subjectivity have been suggested and are in use Subjective choices should be revealed and sensitivities assessed (but this is omitted in many cases) Stefanie Hellweg

16 Optimization Increasingly used in research to model complex systems Examples: Regional optimization of waste management, optimization of building renovations, energy supply optimization of regions Stefanie Hellweg

17 Economic and Social aspects Large demand for sustainability assessments covering all three dimensions (environment, economic, social) Social assessment still in an early phase, but some first approaches now available Recent EU project assessing sustainability of new technologies Multi-criteria approach can be used to assess all three dimensions of sustainability Stefanie Hellweg

18 New applications: some examples Assessments of worldwide trade and consumption impact UNEP resource panel is currently working on an assessment of global energy production EPD Programs in the construction sector Product Environmental Footprint (PEF): Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) based method to calculate the environmental performance of a product (European commission) Organizational Environmental Footprint (OEF) Scope 3 Carbon Footprints of organisations Industrial Ecology: Some new studies coupling regional MFA, LCA and optimization (e.g. for waste treatment or regional energy supply) Assessment of emerging technologies (e.g. smart phones, carbon capture and storage ) Course on Prospective environmental assessment Stefanie Hellweg

19 Exams Oral exam in exam session For ESD-Major Environmental Engineers: 15% of overall grade is the exercise (LCA on biogas or buildings), 85% the oral exam; exercise grade is also part of lab grade For all other students: exercise is graded separately (as separate optional course L) Stefanie Hellweg

20 Theses work Please approach lecturers, if you want to write the Project or Master thesis on a lecture related topic (also own ideas for themes are welcome) Stefanie Hellweg

21 More feedback appreciated good bad Stefanie Hellweg

22 Have a nice holiday!!! Stefanie Hellweg