Life Cycle Analysis

From SEA.unu.edu/wiki

LCA analyses the entire impacts of a strategic action throughout its "life cycle", from initial development through implementation. It considers not only the direct impacts of any projects that may result from a strategic action, but also their impacts down the line: for instance, where the aggregates needed for road construction would come from, or how the wastes from an energy generation programme would be disposed of.

Examples:

Very few LCAs have been carried out as part of SEA. The most commonly-cited is that for waste management in the Netherlands (see projects, projectinfo, case 10).

Advantages:

   * Comprehensive, deals with all impacts from a strategic action

Disadvantages:

   * Not a well-known technique
   * Probably limited to programme SEA
   * Requires large amounts of detailed data

Further information:

Tukker, A. (2000) "Life cycle assessment as a tool in EIA", Environmental Impact Assessment Review 20(4), pp. 435-456.