Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...

Life CycleAssessment(LCA)NaturalcapitalapproachesFour-CapitalsNetworkanalysisLCA is a technique that seeksto consider all theenvironmental impacts ofparticular actions — overtheir lifetime. This isparticularly relevant toclimate change as the GHGemissions are often releasedduring the construction stage.LCA can include a fullassessment of all impacts indetail or be a less quantitativeand detailed consideration ofthe materials in use and theirprobable environmentalimpacts. For exampleresponsibly sourced wood hasa lower carbon footprint thatsteel and responsibly sourced(certified) wood has agenerally lower impact onbiodiversity than un-certifiedwood. LCAs can beundertaken by consultants orin-house.Various similar approachesthat use the concept of‘capital’ as derived fromeconomics and describebenefits through the servicesand outputs provided bynatural and other capital.The Four Capitals Modelconsiders development (andthe meeting of needs andaspirations) to take placethrough the services providedby economic, human, socialand environmental assets.Development is thenconsidered to be sustainableif and only if the stock of allassets or capital (wealth) percapita remains constant orrises over time. The fourtypes of capital are:manufactured capital(infrastructure); naturalcapital (natural resources);human capital (health, wellbeingand productivepotential of individuals); andsocial capital (human wellbeingon a societal level).Network analysis is aneffective way to considercomplex systems by linkingcauses and impacts via achain of causation. Theconcept is based on the ideathat there are links andimpact pathways betweenUndertaking full LCA can be a verycostly and timely process, howevercertain elements of a project mayalready be subject to LCA, there istherefore the potential for the EIAto use this information whereavailable.It may also be possible toundertake a qualitativeassessment of possible LCAimpacts based on readily availableinformation such as material types.LCA is particularly useful during theimpact assessment stage of the EIAand can inform the considerationof alternatives buy identify themost significant elements of aproject in terms of biodiversity andclimate change. But for SEA, LCA ismore likely to be relevant forproviding a way of thinking aboutstrategic options rather than beingapplied more formally.The four-capitals model, and othersimilar approaches, provide analternative framework for definingand assessing sustainabledevelopment and can provide analternative assessment frameworkto use as part of an SEA ensuringthat that all three of the pillars ofsustainable development —economic, social andenvironmental — are included inthe analysis and that the focus ison the evaluation is not just onstocks, but on the flows of benefitsto which they give rise to. It canalso provide a good means ofengaging stakeholders with theconcerns of sustainabledevelopment.This approach can be used toascertain the probable impacts andbenefits on climate change andbiodiversity of various elements ofa project by identifying theiroutcomes via the development ofa chain of causation. It is bestundertaken during the scopingOnline repository of LCA tools:http://www.dantes.info/Tools&Methods/Software/enviro_soft_SW.htmlRegional Economy EnvironmentInput Output (REEIO) is apotentially useful LCA type tool(see below)The SDRTOOLS programmedesign evaluation methods toassess sustainable development,using the Four Capitals Model asa starting point.http://www.srdtools.info/index.htmNetwork analysis is generallydependent upon the use ofexpert knowledge and judgmentand the accurate identificationand linking of drivers andimpacts.Examples of the application ofthis approach can be seen in66 <strong>Guidance</strong> on integrating climate change and biodiversity into SEA