Life cycle impact assessment modelling in the context of planetary boundaries

• Explain the role of fate, exposure and effect factors in LCIA modelling.
• Calculate fate, exposure and effect factors for the eco-toxicity and human-toxicity impacts of different chemicals using the USEtox model.
• Compare and contrast the handling of fate, exposure and effect factors for eco-toxicity and human-toxicity in USEtox with their handling in LCIA models for other impact categories, such as climate change or water scarcity.
• Develop LCIA models for linking elementary flows with indicators of planetary boundaries and other carrying capacities.
• Design LCIA models and other techniques for quantifying carrying capacities.
• Argue for and against the use of specific principles for allocating carrying capacities to individual activities in AESA, considering fairness and practical applicability.
• Interpret the results of LCAs and AESAs considering uncertainties, methodological choices and value judgement, and communicate the results to both experts and non-experts.
• Develop your own impact assessment model for a chosen environmental problem and use it to calculate characterization factors that you will then apply to a specific product life cycle in LCA software.

The course is organized in three themes: 1) LCIA modelling, 2) Linking life cycle impacts to planetary boundaries, 3) Interpretation and decision- support. Each theme involves lectures by DTU staff and external guests, self-study and exercises. A written group case study assignment runs across the three themes.

• 23 – 26

12772/12104/12237/12238, Course 12772 is recommended for all students. Courses 12104, 12237 and 12238 are recommended for MSc Env Eng students. It may also be useful to refresh your linear algebra knowledge from course 01001/01002/01003/01004.

Lectures, exercises and group work on case study