Kounina, Anna; Margni, Manuele; Bayart, Jean-Baptiste; Boulay, Anne-Marie; Berger, Markus; Bulle, Cécile; Frischknecht, Rolf; Koehler, Annette; Milà i Canals, Llorenç; Motoshita, Masaharu; Núñez, Montserrat; Peters, Gregory; Pfister, Stefan; Ridoutt, Brad; van Zelm, Rosalie; Verones, Francesca et Humbert, Sébastien
(2012).
« Review of methods addressing freshwater use in life cycle
inventory and impact assessment ».
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment.
Fichier(s) associé(s) à ce document :
Résumé
Abstract
Purpose In recent years, several methods have been developed which propose different freshwater use inventory
schemes and impact assessment characterization models
considering various cause–effect chain relationships. This
work reviewed a multitude of methods and indicators for
freshwater use potentially applicable in life cycle assessment (LCA). This review is used as a basis to identify the
key elements to build a scientific consensus for operational
characterization methods for LCA.
Methods This evaluation builds on the criteria and procedure developed within the International Reference Life Cycle Data System Handbook and has been adapted for the
purpose of this project. It therefore includes (1) description
of relevant cause–effect chains, (2) definition of criteria to
evaluate the existing methods, (3) development of subcriteria specific to freshwater use, and (4) description and
review of existing methods addressing freshwater in LCA.
Results and discussion No single method is available which
comprehensively describes all potential impacts derived from
freshwater use. However, this review highlights several key
findings to design a characterization method encompassing all
the impact pathways of the assessment of freshwater use and
consumption in life cycle assessment framework as the following: (1) in most of databases and methods, consistent
freshwater balances are not reported either because output is
not considered or because polluted freshwater is recalculated
based on a critical dilution approach; (2) at the midpoint level,
most methods are related to water scarcity index and correspond to the methodological choice of an indicator simplified
in terms of the number of parameters (scarcity) and freshwater
uses (freshwater consumption or freshwater withdrawal) considered. More comprehensive scarcity indices distinguish different freshwater types and functionalities. (3) At the endpoint
level, several methods already exist which report results in
units compatible with traditional human health and ecosystem
quality damage and cover various cause–effect chains, e.g.,
the decrease of terrestrial biodiversity due to freshwater consumption. (4) Midpoint and endpoint indicators have various
levels of spatial differentiation, i.e., generic factors with no
differentiation at all, or country, watershed, and grid cell
differentiation.
Conclusions Existing databases should be (1) completed with
input and output freshwater flow differentiated according to
water types based on its origin (surface water, groundwater,
and precipitation water stored as soil moisture), (2) regionalized, and (3) if possible, characterized with a set of quality
parameters. The assessment of impacts related to freshwater
use is possible by assembling methods in a comprehensive
methodology to characterize each use adequately
| Type: |
Article de revue scientifique
|
| Mots-clés ou Sujets: |
Ecosystem quality . Freshwater use . Human
health . Life cycle assessment . Method review . Resources |
| Unité d'appartenance: |
École des sciences de la gestion |
| Déposé par: |
Cécile Bulle
|
| Date de dépôt: |
31 oct. 2022 15:24 |
| Dernière modification: |
31 oct. 2022 15:24 |
| Adresse URL : |
http://archipel.uqam.ca/id/eprint/16037 |
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