Life Cycle Assessment and the Policy Cycle
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Transcript of Life Cycle Assessment and the Policy Cycle
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
AND POLICY MAKING
1
Dr. Stefanos Fotiou, UNEP
Life cycle2
Policy cycle3
Relations?4
How LCA can support each stage of the policy cycle?
First things first: LCA basics5
LCA is a “systems’ approach”
• Look at the issue in a broader context
• Identify the underlying cause of the problem
• Optimising systems; not only improving their parts
LCA and choices
• Our choices are not “isolated” (externalities)
• Our choices should be informed (evidence based policy making)
• Choices for the long term (“shortermism” is enemy of sustainability)
First things first: Policy making
basics6
• Prices
• Technologies
• ……………..
Policies are sets of “norms” aiming at
affecting institutional and individual “behaviors”
• Pressure from stakeholder groups / lobbying
• Preferences of “policy makers”
• Public opinion (usually not based on science)
Science is part of decision making but not the only
part.
• Aspirations
• Interests
• Perceptions
Policy principles provide guidance but are net per
se “legal rules”
Role of LCA in policy making
process7
Bring science into the equation
Balance interests and perceptions
Support the establishment of “right” prices
Promote innovative technologies
Aware public opinion
Make the business case
LCA in problem framing8
Identify and accurately map causes and impacts of problems
• Credible quantitative data
• Scientific analysis
• Framing solutions
Identify stakeholders involved in the “problem chain”
• Correlate impacts with behaviors
• Find dependencies among groups
LCA in policy framing9
Inform and help prioritize policies
Set measurable policy goals
Identify mandate and authority of “implementers”
Make policies more consistent among groups
• Owners of resources; producers; suppliers; consumers; waste managers
LCA in policy implementation10
Select the right policy instruments
Set prices to accurately reflect real total costs
• Environmental degradation, health, erosion of social welfare
Purchase more sustainable products and services
• Support national, regional and global markets
Take back systems supporting circular economy
Plan communication, education, information
LCA: Help selection of instruments11
LCA in monitoring and
evaluation12
Measure progress of quantitative targets
Identify “nodes” of non-compliance
Suggest corrective actions
Examples of LCA in policy13
French policy for recycling
Costa Rica policy on pesticides
Mexico policies on
waste management
EU policy on ecolabels
Japan system certification
scheme
Thailand green
procurement plan
USA policy on GHGs
reductions
China policies on eco-design
Success factors for LCA in
policies14
Continuous engagement with stakeholders
Participation of industry boosts implementation
Financial savings promote upscale of policies
Need for quantitative thresholds
Measure of impact reduction
LCA in context: System’s Innovation
approach15
Changes to consumption and lifestyle habits, urban form,
transportation modes, energy production, and economic
structure
Technological improvements that permit efficiency gains to
be achieved without impinging on nutritional
budgets or quality of life in developing countries
Massive investments in infrastructure, skills and
institutions and governance capacity supporting
sustainable development
Strengthening existing fiscal and financial instruments for
creating incentives for resource efficiency
interventions
Focus areas
Linking policy and LCA: Way
forward16
Mainstream LCA databases.
Industry, Environment,
Statistical Services
LCA as a cross-sectional tool
for policy development
and implementation
Provide LCA based tools and
solution to support
implementation of SDGs
Facilitate international and south-
south cooperation on
LCA tools