Introduction

This introductory chapter presents a book outline and the work of the European project SCORE! (Sustainable Consumption Research Exchange). Also covered is the process of the SCORE! project and the role of the contributors and their responsibilities

Imagining sustainability: The added value of transition scenarios in transition management

Abstract Purpose – To address lessons that specify the impact and contribution of current scenario methods when focused on facilitating transition management processes. Design/methodology/approach – Comparative literature review based on transition management and scenario development. Research limitations/implications – Need of further systemic thought about the required criteria of transition scenarios and the embedding of scenario use in transition management processes. Practical implications – Processes of transition management are in need of transition specific scenarios. Originality/value – Because transition management implies a complex and long-term steering paradigm with which current scenario applications are not familiar, conclusions are drawn on the (changing) requirements of scenario development processes in transition management and on the need to innovate current scenario methods in the context of transition management

The MIIM LCA PH.D. club: Presentation and introduction

During 1998, the number of completed Ph.D.s on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) seemed to be larger than any previous year. In order to mark this achievement, a special series is being published in the International Journal of LCA. In this introductory paper, the Class of MUM outline the results of their research work over the last few years. A number of common points and tendencies have emerged through this work. First of all, the scope-dependency of LCA models: some of us have discerned in particular the need to distinguish between descriptive and change-oriented LCAs. Secondly, a number of the theses focus on the interaction between LCA and decision-making. Thirdly, the benefits of pluralism in impact assessment and allocation have been advocated in some of the theses. Finally, it may be noted that in these theses structuring the management of controversial issues seems to be preferred to eliminating such issues by a process of harmonisation. Future papers will map out the intellectual journeys undertaken in the development of these theses and discuss key findings in more detai

8. 皮膚リーシュマニア症を疑った例(第434(B)回千葉医学会例会 第15回千葉皮膚科臨床談話会)

Additional file 3: Technical details on the compilation of the global material flow database

Consumption-based material flow indicators - Comparing six ways of calculating the Austrian raw material consumption providing six results

Understanding the environmental implications of consumption and production depends on appropriate monitoring tools. Material flow accounting (MFA) is a method to monitor natural resource use by countries and has been widely used in research and policy. However, the increasing globalization requires the consideration of "embodied" material use of traded products. The indicator raw material consumption (RMC) represents the material use - no matter where in the world it occurs - associated with domestic final demand. It provides a consumption-based perspective complementary to the MFA indicators that have a territorial focus. Several studies on RMC have been presented recently but with diverging results; hence, a better understanding of the underlying differences is needed. This article presents a comparison of Austrian RMC for the year 2007 calculated by six different approaches (3 multi-regional input-output (MRIO) and 3 hybrid life-cycle analysis-IO approaches). Five approaches result in an RMC higher than the domestic material consumption (DMC). One hybrid LCA-IO approach calculates RMC to be lower than DMC. For specific material categories, results diverge by 50% or more. Due to the policy relevance of the RMC and DMC indicators it is paramount that their robustness is enhanced, which needs both data and method harmonization

Draft final report of the LCM definition study

Life Cycle Management is a new framework to meet our present global challenges towards more sustainable patterns of production and consumption. In this context, LCM is offering a platform for the private and public sector. Thinking in systems and along product/service life cycles offers insights into how decisions should be made to improve a systems performance. The LCM concept has emerged out of industrial practice, but offers also opportunities for the public sector. In a new global understanding all market actors, policy makers, industry and consumers are essential players that need to find common platforms to achieve triple bottom line success - for all actors. In so far, LCM is rather opportunity driven as risk management or risk aversion driven. The LCM framework build on factual information and uses a variety of procedural and analytical tools, which themselves serve as underpinning of programs, management systems and, finally, corporate and policy strategies. The LCM Definition study positions existing tools, concepts and strategies in one overall framework, that allows sufficient flexibility to meet specific needs and thus also allows for flexibility for implementation. LCM is not a new “super”-tool that superimposes a new approach over existing successful practice. Opposite, LCM offers for the first time an umbrella framework, where tools that had been used in isolation before, can become mutually reinforcing and thus maximize their respective use. LCM is broad and flexible and reaches out to the public and private sector equally. The global challenges ahead of us require all market actors, and in particular industry and governments to align concepts and approaches to achieve the respective aims for all parties. Governments and the public sector need to provide the “right” framework and guidance under which the private sector then can realize its business objectives. Then this happens in a coordinated fashion

Future greenhouse gas emissions of automotive lithium-ion battery cell production

Understanding the future environmental impacts of lithium-ion batteries is crucial for a sustainable transition to electric vehicles. Here, we build a prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA) model for lithium-ion battery cell production for 8 battery chemistries and 3 production regions (China, US, and EU). The pLCA model includes scenarios for future life cycle inventory data for energy and key materials used in battery cell production. We find that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per kWh of lithium-ion battery cell production could be reduced from 41 to 89 kg CO2-Eq in 2020 to 10-45 kg CO2-Eq in 2050, mainly due to the effect of a low-carbon electricity transition. The Cathode is the biggest contributor (33%-70%) of cell GHG emissions in the period between 2020 and 2050. In 2050, LiOH will be the main contributor to GHG emissions of LFP cathodes, and Ni2SO4 for NCM/NCA cathodes. These results promote discussion on how to reduce battery GHG emissions

Identifying priority areas for European resource policies: a MRIO-based material footprint assessment

In the context of the transformation toward a "green economy," issues related to natural resource use have rapidly increased in importance in European and international policy debates. The large number of studies applying economy-wide material flow analysis so far mostly produced aggregated national indicators, making the results difficult to connect to policies, which are often designed for single sectors or consumption areas. This paper provides a detailed assessment of the composition of EU's material footprint in its global context, aiming at identifying the main product groups contributing to overall material consumption and specifying the geographical sources for the raw materials required to satisfy EU's final demand. Based on multi-regional input¿output (MRIO) modeling, we apply production layer decomposition to assess supply chains and their structural changes from 1995 to 2011. The global MRIO database used in this study is EXIOBASE 3, which disaggregates 200 products and 163 industries, of which 33 represent material extraction sectors. By that means, we increase the level of detail to a degree where policies can more easily connect to. We find that the generally growing material footprint of the EU was characterized by a dramatic shift regarding the origin of raw materials, with the share of materials extracted within the EU territory falling from 68 % in 1995 to 35 % in 2011. In 2011, raw materials extracted in China to produce exports to the EU already contributed an equal share to EU's material footprint as material extraction within the EU itself. Import dependency is most critical for the material group of metal ores, with only 13 % of all metals required as inputs to EU final demand stemming from within the EU. Regarding product composition, construction was confirmed as the most important sector contributing to the material footprint, followed by the group of manufacturing products based on biomass. Materials embodied in service sector activities together contributed a quarter to the total material footprint in 2011, making services an important, but currently disregarded area for European resource policies. We also find that supply chain structures became more complex over time, with a growing part located outside the EU territory. (authors' abstract