scholarly journals Life cycle climate change impacts of producing battery metals from land ores versus deep-sea polymetallic nodules

2020 ◽  
Vol 275 ◽  
pp. 123822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daina Paulikas ◽  
Steven Katona ◽  
Erika Ilves ◽  
Saleem H. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Deep Sea ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Polymetallic Nodules

scholarly journals A critical analysis of the carbon neutrality assumption in life cycle assessment of forest bioenergy systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiguo Liu ◽  
Zhen Yu ◽  
Xinfeng Xie ◽  
Klaus von Gadow ◽  
Changhui Peng
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Critical Analysis ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Carbon Accounting ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Forest Residue ◽  
Assess Climate Change ◽  
Accounting Errors

This study presents a critical analysis regarding the assumption of carbon neutrality in life cycle assessment (LCA) models that assess climate change impacts of bioenergy usage. We identified a complex of problems in the carbon neutrality assumption, especially regarding bioenergy derived from forest residues. In this study, we summarized several issues related to carbon neutral assumptions, with particular emphasis on possible carbon accounting errors at the product level. We analyzed errors in estimating emissions in the supply chain, direct and indirect emissions due to forest residue extraction, biogenic CO2 emission from biomass combustion for energy, and other effects related to forest residue extraction. Various modeling approaches are discussed in detail. We concluded that there is a need to correct accounting errors when estimating climate change impacts and proposed possible remedies. To accurately assess climate change impacts of bioenergy use, greater efforts are required to improve forest carbon cycle modeling, especially to identify and correct pitfalls associated with LCA accounting, forest residue extraction effects on forest fire risk and biodiversity. Uncertainties in accounting carbon emissions in LCA are also highlighted, and associated risks are discussed.

Determination of the life cycle climate change impacts of land use and albedo change in algal biofuel production

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 270-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Odile P. Fortier ◽  
Griffin W. Roberts ◽  
Susan M. Stagg-Williams ◽  
Belinda S.M. Sturm
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Algal Biofuel ◽  
Albedo Change

scholarly journals Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Edible Vegetable Frying Oils

2021 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 1717-1733
Author(s):  
Valentina Prado ◽  
Jesse Daystar ◽  
Steven Pires ◽  
Michele Wallace ◽  
Lise Laurin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Vegetable Oils ◽  
Canola Oil ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Cottonseed Oil ◽  
Frying Oils

HighlightsCottonseed oil (CSO), a cotton byproduct, has advantages for climate change compared to other seed oils.Results show that the cultivation phase is the main impact driver for all vegetable oils analyzed in this study.Refined CSO (U.S.) can reduce climate change impacts by up to 83% as compared to the other oils analyzed.Abstract. Edible vegetable oils are a major source of climate change impacts and an environmental concern in the processed food industry. This study consists of a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) of refined U.S. cottonseed oil (CSO), global soybean oil, U.S. canola oil, and palm oil sourced from Indonesia and Malaysia. Considering the oils equivalent for deep frying, they are compared on a 1 kg of oil basis. Analysis includes sensitivity analyses for modeling allocation choices and oil mixes as well as uncertainty analysis. Results show that the cultivation phase is the main impact driver for all vegetable oils analyzed, which favors CSO (U.S.) because it is a co-product. Refined CSO (U.S.) can reduce climate change impacts by up to 83%. Overall, refined CSO (U.S.) was a top performer in six of the eight impact categories evaluated. When ranking the oils, refined CSO (U.S.) was the preferred choice. Despite being the preferred choice, there are tradeoffs with CSO, such as water scarcity. In the context of global-scale commercial frying applications, e.g., McDonald’s daily French fry production of 9 million tons per day, switching the frying oil to refined CSO (U.S.) represents potential savings of 1,130 to 2,188 tons of CO2-eq d-1. For fast-food chains seeking to reduce their climate change impacts, refined CSO (U.S.) may be useful in frying applications. However, opportunities may exist for improvement in water use efficiency in the cultivation phase, which reinforces the need for continuous improvements in agriculture. Keywords: Comparative life cycle assessment, Canola oil, Cottonseed oil, Cotton sustainability, Fast-food industry, LCA, Palm oil, Soybean oil, Vegetable frying oils.

scholarly journals Phenology, seasonal timing and circannual rhythms: towards a unified framework

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1555) ◽  
pp. 3113-3127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcel E. Visser ◽  
Samuel P. Caro ◽  
Kees van Oers ◽  
Sonja V. Schaper ◽  
Barbara Helm
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Global Change ◽  
Annual Variation ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Unified Framework ◽  
Seasonal Timing ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Fitness Consequences

Phenology refers to the periodic appearance of life-cycle events and currently receives abundant attention as the effects of global change on phenology are so apparent. Phenology as a discipline observes these events and relates their annual variation to variation in climate. But phenology is also studied in other disciplines, each with their own perspective. Evolutionary ecologists study variation in seasonal timing and its fitness consequences, whereas chronobiologists emphasize the periodic nature of life-cycle stages and their underlying timing programmes (e.g. circannual rhythms). The (neuro-) endocrine processes underlying these life-cycle events are studied by physiologists and need to be linked to genes that are explored by molecular geneticists. In order to fully understand variation in phenology, we need to integrate these different perspectives, in particular by combining evolutionary and mechanistic approaches. We use avian research to characterize different perspectives and to highlight integration that has already been achieved. Building on this work, we outline a route towards uniting the different disciplines in a single framework, which may be used to better understand and, more importantly, to forecast climate change impacts on phenology.

Evaluation of GHG Emissions from the Production of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT): Analysis of Different Life Cycle Inventories

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Rosse Caldas ◽  
Jorge Sierra-Pérez ◽  
Romildo Dias Toledo Filho ◽  
Marcos Silvoso
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Electricity Consumption ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
The United States ◽  
Life Cycle Inventories ◽  
Cross Laminated Timber ◽  
Mass Timber

The Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) has been receiving special attention in recent research as an alternative for climate change mitigation since it is a renewable source and can remove and stock high amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. Some countries, such as Brazil, still do not have mature and large CLT industry. However, the development of this industry in other countries is expected since the CLT is considered the main wood material to be used in high-rise mass timber buildings. It is particularly important to have environmental information, especially concerning the climate change impacts, in terms of life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, for this product to increase its competitiveness in a new market. In this context, this research aimed to evaluate three different Life cycle inventories (LCIs) for CLT production of studies from Japan and the United States. Based on the first findings, we summarized the critical items in the LCI of CLT production and listed some actions for the reduction of GHG emissions that occur in this process. The LCIs are adapted considering the context of Brazil (a country with a cleaner electricity matrix) and China (a country with the highest share of fossil fuels). The main inconsistencies present in the LCIs are presented and discussed. The GHG emissions are concentrated in the following hotspots: (1) Roundwood production; (2) electricity consumption; and (3) adhesives production for CLT production. Therefore, the reduction of the consumption of these materials and activities should be encouraged for the decrease of GHG emissions. The data of Roundwood used in the modelling severely affects the final results. Their GHG emissions are related to the consumption of diesel in forestry activities. This research brings insights into the evaluation of the life cycle GHG emissions from the production of CLT.

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