Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects

Autores
Arena, Pablo; Civit, Bárbara
Año de publicación
2009
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión aceptada
Descripción
Background, aim and scope Life cycle assessment (LCA) enables the objective assessment of global environmental burdens associated with the life cycle of a product or a production system. One of the main weaknesses of LCA is that, as yet, there is no scientific agreement on the assessment methods for land-use related impacts, which results in either the exclusion or the lack of assessment of local environmental impacts related to land use. The inclusion of the desertification impact in LCA studies of any human activity can be important in high-desertification risk regions. Main features This paper focuses on the development of a methodology for including the desertification environmental impact derived from land use in LCA studies. A set of variables to be measured in the life cycle inventory (LCI), their characterisation factors (CFs) and an impact assessment method for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase are suggested. The CFs were acquired using a geographical information system (GIS). Results For the LCI stage it is necessary to register information on: (1) the four biophysical variables of aridity, erosion, aquifer overexploitation and fire risk, with a created scale of values; (2) the geographical location of the activity and (3) the spatial and temporal extension of the activity. For the CFs, the four LCI biophysical variables in (1) were measured for the main terrestrial natural regions (ecoregions) by means of GIS. Discussion Using GIS, calculation of the CF for the aridity variable shows that 38% of the world area, in eight out of 15 existing ecoregions, is at risk of desertification. The most affected is the tropical/subtropical desert. The LCIA model has been developed to identify scenarios without desertification impact. Conclusions The developed method makes possible the inclusion of the desertification impact derived from land use in LCA studies, using data generally available to LCA users. Recommendations and perspectives While this LCIA model may be a simplified approach, it can be calibrated and Responsible editor: Llorenç Milà i Canals Preamble In this series of two papers, methodological aspects related to the assessment of desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment (LCA) are discussed (Part 1), and the operational method and characterisation factors suggested are put into practise in a case study of energy crops in different regions worldwide (Part 2). M. Núñez (*) : P. Muñoz IRTA, SosteniPrA, Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 Cabrils, 08348 Barcelona, Spain e-mail: Montserrat.nunez@irta.cat A. Antón SosteniPrA (UAB-IRTA), Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 Cabrils, 08348 Barcelona, Spain B. Civit : A. P. Arena Universidad Tecnológica Nacional—Facultad Regional Mendoza/CONICET, Rodríguez 273, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina J. Rieradevall ICTA, SosteniPrA. Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain J. Rieradevall Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain Int J Life Cycle Assess (2010) 15:67–78 DOI 10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0 improved for different case studies. The model proposed is suitable for assessing the desertification impact of any type of human activity and may be complemented with specific activity indicators, and although we have considered biophysical factors, the method can be extended to socioeconomic vectors.
Fil: Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Mendoza, Argentina
Peer Reviewed
Fuente
Int J Life Cycle Assess (15) : 67–78 (2010)
Materia
Aridity index, Characterisation factors, Desertification, Geographical information system (GIS) , Land use impacts, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), Life cycle inventory (LCI)
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
2024-02-21T14:30:56Z
Repositorio
Repositorio Institucional Abierto (UTN)
Institución
Universidad Tecnológica Nacional
OAI Identificador
oai:ria.utn.edu.ar:20.500.12272/9548
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:ria.utn.edu.ar:20.500.12272/9548
network_acronym_str RIAUTN
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network_name_str Repositorio Institucional Abierto (UTN)
spelling Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspectsArena, PabloCivit, BárbaraAridity index, Characterisation factors, Desertification, Geographical information system (GIS) , Land use impacts, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), Life cycle inventory (LCI)Background, aim and scope Life cycle assessment (LCA) enables the objective assessment of global environmental burdens associated with the life cycle of a product or a production system. One of the main weaknesses of LCA is that, as yet, there is no scientific agreement on the assessment methods for land-use related impacts, which results in either the exclusion or the lack of assessment of local environmental impacts related to land use. The inclusion of the desertification impact in LCA studies of any human activity can be important in high-desertification risk regions. Main features This paper focuses on the development of a methodology for including the desertification environmental impact derived from land use in LCA studies. A set of variables to be measured in the life cycle inventory (LCI), their characterisation factors (CFs) and an impact assessment method for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase are suggested. The CFs were acquired using a geographical information system (GIS). Results For the LCI stage it is necessary to register information on: (1) the four biophysical variables of aridity, erosion, aquifer overexploitation and fire risk, with a created scale of values; (2) the geographical location of the activity and (3) the spatial and temporal extension of the activity. For the CFs, the four LCI biophysical variables in (1) were measured for the main terrestrial natural regions (ecoregions) by means of GIS. Discussion Using GIS, calculation of the CF for the aridity variable shows that 38% of the world area, in eight out of 15 existing ecoregions, is at risk of desertification. The most affected is the tropical/subtropical desert. The LCIA model has been developed to identify scenarios without desertification impact. Conclusions The developed method makes possible the inclusion of the desertification impact derived from land use in LCA studies, using data generally available to LCA users. Recommendations and perspectives While this LCIA model may be a simplified approach, it can be calibrated and Responsible editor: Llorenç Milà i Canals Preamble In this series of two papers, methodological aspects related to the assessment of desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment (LCA) are discussed (Part 1), and the operational method and characterisation factors suggested are put into practise in a case study of energy crops in different regions worldwide (Part 2). M. Núñez (*) : P. Muñoz IRTA, SosteniPrA, Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 Cabrils, 08348 Barcelona, Spain e-mail: Montserrat.nunez@irta.cat A. Antón SosteniPrA (UAB-IRTA), Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 Cabrils, 08348 Barcelona, Spain B. Civit : A. P. Arena Universidad Tecnológica Nacional—Facultad Regional Mendoza/CONICET, Rodríguez 273, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina J. Rieradevall ICTA, SosteniPrA. Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain J. Rieradevall Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain Int J Life Cycle Assess (2010) 15:67–78 DOI 10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0 improved for different case studies. The model proposed is suitable for assessing the desertification impact of any type of human activity and may be complemented with specific activity indicators, and although we have considered biophysical factors, the method can be extended to socioeconomic vectors.Fil: Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Mendoza, ArgentinaPeer Reviewed2024-02-21T14:30:56Z2024-02-21T14:30:56Z2009-10-21info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articulopdfapplication/pdfInt J Life Cycle Assess 2010http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12272/954810.1007/s11367-009-0126-0Int J Life Cycle Assess (15) : 67–78 (2010)reponame:Repositorio Institucional Abierto (UTN)instname:Universidad Tecnológica Nacionalenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess2024-02-21T14:30:56Zhttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/CC0 1.0 UniversalUniversidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional MendozaAtribución2026-09-24T12:45:33Zoai:ria.utn.edu.ar:20.500.12272/9548instacron:UTNInstitucionalhttp://ria.utn.edu.ar/Universidad públicaNo correspondehttp://ria.utn.edu.ar/oaigestionria@rec.utn.edu.ar; fsuarez@rec.utn.edu.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:a2026-09-24 12:45:34.155Repositorio Institucional Abierto (UTN) - Universidad Tecnológica Nacionalfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects
title Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects
spellingShingle Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects
Arena, Pablo
Aridity index, Characterisation factors, Desertification, Geographical information system (GIS) , Land use impacts, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), Life cycle inventory (LCI)
title_short Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects
title_full Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects
title_fullStr Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects
title_full_unstemmed Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects
title_sort Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment Part 1 : methodological aspects
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Arena, Pablo
Civit, Bárbara
author Arena, Pablo
author_facet Arena, Pablo
Civit, Bárbara
author_role author
author2 Civit, Bárbara
author2_role author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Aridity index, Characterisation factors, Desertification, Geographical information system (GIS) , Land use impacts, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), Life cycle inventory (LCI)
topic Aridity index, Characterisation factors, Desertification, Geographical information system (GIS) , Land use impacts, Life cycle assessment (LCA), Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA), Life cycle inventory (LCI)
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv Background, aim and scope Life cycle assessment (LCA) enables the objective assessment of global environmental burdens associated with the life cycle of a product or a production system. One of the main weaknesses of LCA is that, as yet, there is no scientific agreement on the assessment methods for land-use related impacts, which results in either the exclusion or the lack of assessment of local environmental impacts related to land use. The inclusion of the desertification impact in LCA studies of any human activity can be important in high-desertification risk regions. Main features This paper focuses on the development of a methodology for including the desertification environmental impact derived from land use in LCA studies. A set of variables to be measured in the life cycle inventory (LCI), their characterisation factors (CFs) and an impact assessment method for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase are suggested. The CFs were acquired using a geographical information system (GIS). Results For the LCI stage it is necessary to register information on: (1) the four biophysical variables of aridity, erosion, aquifer overexploitation and fire risk, with a created scale of values; (2) the geographical location of the activity and (3) the spatial and temporal extension of the activity. For the CFs, the four LCI biophysical variables in (1) were measured for the main terrestrial natural regions (ecoregions) by means of GIS. Discussion Using GIS, calculation of the CF for the aridity variable shows that 38% of the world area, in eight out of 15 existing ecoregions, is at risk of desertification. The most affected is the tropical/subtropical desert. The LCIA model has been developed to identify scenarios without desertification impact. Conclusions The developed method makes possible the inclusion of the desertification impact derived from land use in LCA studies, using data generally available to LCA users. Recommendations and perspectives While this LCIA model may be a simplified approach, it can be calibrated and Responsible editor: Llorenç Milà i Canals Preamble In this series of two papers, methodological aspects related to the assessment of desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment (LCA) are discussed (Part 1), and the operational method and characterisation factors suggested are put into practise in a case study of energy crops in different regions worldwide (Part 2). M. Núñez (*) : P. Muñoz IRTA, SosteniPrA, Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 Cabrils, 08348 Barcelona, Spain e-mail: Montserrat.nunez@irta.cat A. Antón SosteniPrA (UAB-IRTA), Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 Cabrils, 08348 Barcelona, Spain B. Civit : A. P. Arena Universidad Tecnológica Nacional—Facultad Regional Mendoza/CONICET, Rodríguez 273, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina J. Rieradevall ICTA, SosteniPrA. Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain J. Rieradevall Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain Int J Life Cycle Assess (2010) 15:67–78 DOI 10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0 improved for different case studies. The model proposed is suitable for assessing the desertification impact of any type of human activity and may be complemented with specific activity indicators, and although we have considered biophysical factors, the method can be extended to socioeconomic vectors.
Fil: Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Mendoza, Argentina
Peer Reviewed
description Background, aim and scope Life cycle assessment (LCA) enables the objective assessment of global environmental burdens associated with the life cycle of a product or a production system. One of the main weaknesses of LCA is that, as yet, there is no scientific agreement on the assessment methods for land-use related impacts, which results in either the exclusion or the lack of assessment of local environmental impacts related to land use. The inclusion of the desertification impact in LCA studies of any human activity can be important in high-desertification risk regions. Main features This paper focuses on the development of a methodology for including the desertification environmental impact derived from land use in LCA studies. A set of variables to be measured in the life cycle inventory (LCI), their characterisation factors (CFs) and an impact assessment method for the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) phase are suggested. The CFs were acquired using a geographical information system (GIS). Results For the LCI stage it is necessary to register information on: (1) the four biophysical variables of aridity, erosion, aquifer overexploitation and fire risk, with a created scale of values; (2) the geographical location of the activity and (3) the spatial and temporal extension of the activity. For the CFs, the four LCI biophysical variables in (1) were measured for the main terrestrial natural regions (ecoregions) by means of GIS. Discussion Using GIS, calculation of the CF for the aridity variable shows that 38% of the world area, in eight out of 15 existing ecoregions, is at risk of desertification. The most affected is the tropical/subtropical desert. The LCIA model has been developed to identify scenarios without desertification impact. Conclusions The developed method makes possible the inclusion of the desertification impact derived from land use in LCA studies, using data generally available to LCA users. Recommendations and perspectives While this LCIA model may be a simplified approach, it can be calibrated and Responsible editor: Llorenç Milà i Canals Preamble In this series of two papers, methodological aspects related to the assessment of desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment (LCA) are discussed (Part 1), and the operational method and characterisation factors suggested are put into practise in a case study of energy crops in different regions worldwide (Part 2). M. Núñez (*) : P. Muñoz IRTA, SosteniPrA, Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 Cabrils, 08348 Barcelona, Spain e-mail: Montserrat.nunez@irta.cat A. Antón SosteniPrA (UAB-IRTA), Ctra. de Cabrils, Km 2 Cabrils, 08348 Barcelona, Spain B. Civit : A. P. Arena Universidad Tecnológica Nacional—Facultad Regional Mendoza/CONICET, Rodríguez 273, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina J. Rieradevall ICTA, SosteniPrA. Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain J. Rieradevall Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain Int J Life Cycle Assess (2010) 15:67–78 DOI 10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0 improved for different case studies. The model proposed is suitable for assessing the desertification impact of any type of human activity and may be complemented with specific activity indicators, and although we have considered biophysical factors, the method can be extended to socioeconomic vectors.
publishDate 2009
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2009-10-21
2024-02-21T14:30:56Z
2024-02-21T14:30:56Z
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str acceptedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv Int J Life Cycle Assess 2010
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12272/9548
10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0
identifier_str_mv Int J Life Cycle Assess 2010
10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0
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2024-02-21T14:30:56Z
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CC0 1.0 Universal
Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Mendoza
Atribución
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rights_invalid_str_mv 2024-02-21T14:30:56Z
http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
CC0 1.0 Universal
Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional Mendoza
Atribución
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv pdf
application/pdf
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Int J Life Cycle Assess (15) : 67–78 (2010)
reponame:Repositorio Institucional Abierto (UTN)
instname:Universidad Tecnológica Nacional
reponame_str Repositorio Institucional Abierto (UTN)
collection Repositorio Institucional Abierto (UTN)
instname_str Universidad Tecnológica Nacional
repository.name.fl_str_mv Repositorio Institucional Abierto (UTN) - Universidad Tecnológica Nacional
repository.mail.fl_str_mv gestionria@rec.utn.edu.ar; fsuarez@rec.utn.edu.ar
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