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

Autores
Nuñez, Montserrat; Civit, Bárbara María; Muñoz, Pere; Arena, Alejandro Pablo; Rieradevall, Joan; Antón, Assumpció
Año de publicación
2010
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
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 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 socio-economic vectors.
Fil: Nuñez, Montserrat. IRTA, SosteniPrA,Barcelona.; España
Fil: Civit, Bárbara María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina
Fil: Muñoz, Pere. IRTA, SosteniPrA,Barcelona.; España
Fil: Arena, Alejandro Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina
Fil: Rieradevall, Joan. ICTA, SosteniPrA. Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA)Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)Barcelona.; España. Chemical Engineering DepartmentUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)Barcelona; España
Fil: Assumpció, Antón. SosteniPrA (UAB-IRTA)Barcelona.; España
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
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/93536

id CONICETDig_83f1424563e360b4d2712c49d8d63b64
oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/93536
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment: Part 1: Methodological aspectsNuñez, MontserratCivit, Bárbara MaríaMuñoz, PereArena, Alejandro PabloRieradevall, JoanAntón, AssumpcióARIDITY INDEXCHARACTERISATION FACTORSDESERTIFICATIONGEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS)LAND USE IMPACTSLIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA)LIFE CYCLE IMPACT ASSESSMENT (LCIA)LIFE CYCLE INVENTORY (LCI)https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1Background, 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 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 socio-economic vectors.Fil: Nuñez, Montserrat. IRTA, SosteniPrA,Barcelona.; EspañaFil: Civit, Bárbara María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz, Pere. IRTA, SosteniPrA,Barcelona.; EspañaFil: Arena, Alejandro Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Rieradevall, Joan. ICTA, SosteniPrA. Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA)Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)Barcelona.; España. Chemical Engineering DepartmentUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)Barcelona; EspañaFil: Assumpció, Antón. SosteniPrA (UAB-IRTA)Barcelona.; EspañaSpringer Heidelberg2010-01info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/93536Nuñez, Montserrat; Civit, Bárbara María; Muñoz, Pere; Arena, Alejandro Pablo; Rieradevall, Joan; et al.; Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment: Part 1: Methodological aspects; Springer Heidelberg; International Journal Of Life Cycle Assessment; 15; 1; 1-2010; 67-780948-3349CONICET DigitalCONICETengVer parte 1 en http://hdl.handle.net/11336/2667info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-09-03T10:00:05Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/93536instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-09-03 10:00:06.141CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
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
Nuñez, Montserrat
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 Nuñez, Montserrat
Civit, Bárbara María
Muñoz, Pere
Arena, Alejandro Pablo
Rieradevall, Joan
Antón, Assumpció
author Nuñez, Montserrat
author_facet Nuñez, Montserrat
Civit, Bárbara María
Muñoz, Pere
Arena, Alejandro Pablo
Rieradevall, Joan
Antón, Assumpció
author_role author
author2 Civit, Bárbara María
Muñoz, Pere
Arena, Alejandro Pablo
Rieradevall, Joan
Antón, Assumpció
author2_role author
author
author
author
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)
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
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 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 socio-economic vectors.
Fil: Nuñez, Montserrat. IRTA, SosteniPrA,Barcelona.; España
Fil: Civit, Bárbara María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina
Fil: Muñoz, Pere. IRTA, SosteniPrA,Barcelona.; España
Fil: Arena, Alejandro Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina
Fil: Rieradevall, Joan. ICTA, SosteniPrA. Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA)Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)Barcelona.; España. Chemical Engineering DepartmentUniversitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)Barcelona; España
Fil: Assumpció, Antón. SosteniPrA (UAB-IRTA)Barcelona.; España
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 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 socio-economic vectors.
publishDate 2010
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2010-01
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/93536
Nuñez, Montserrat; Civit, Bárbara María; Muñoz, Pere; Arena, Alejandro Pablo; Rieradevall, Joan; et al.; Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment: Part 1: Methodological aspects; Springer Heidelberg; International Journal Of Life Cycle Assessment; 15; 1; 1-2010; 67-78
0948-3349
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/93536
identifier_str_mv Nuñez, Montserrat; Civit, Bárbara María; Muñoz, Pere; Arena, Alejandro Pablo; Rieradevall, Joan; et al.; Assessing potential desertification environmental impact in life cycle assessment: Part 1: Methodological aspects; Springer Heidelberg; International Journal Of Life Cycle Assessment; 15; 1; 1-2010; 67-78
0948-3349
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Ver parte 1 en http://hdl.handle.net/11336/2667
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1007/s11367-009-0126-0
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer Heidelberg
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer Heidelberg
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
_version_ 1842269619766689792
score 13.13397