From attributional to consequential LCA

This one-day course is for the expert in attributional LCA who wants to know the arguments for adding consequential LCA to the repertoire. The course will provide all the arguments you need to convince yourself, your boss or your clients that consequential LCA is necessary for hotspot identification, labelling and decision support in general. You will learn about the simplifications and cost reductions that consequential LCA can bring compared to your current practice.

The course

Subject:

We will discuss the application areas and advantages and disadvantages of both types of modelling, and their relation to the relevant standards and guidelines, such as the ISO 14000-series of standards, the GHG Protocol, EN15804 for the building industry, and the PEF guidelines.

The course also gives a quick overview of the practical procedures in consequential inventory modelling, but you will not become an expert practitioner in one day. To complement this course, you may want to add the two-days: “Hands-on Consequential Life Cycle Inventory” course.

Course outline (lectures and exercises on):

  • Examples of applications where attributional and consequential models give different results.
  • The differences in purpose, calculation algorithms and empirical data between attributional and consequential models.
  • Physical and economic flows and balances in the two types of models.
  • Discussion of the interpretation and relevant application areas of the two model types.
  • Normative assumptions in the two models and relative uncertainty of the results.
  • Simplifications and cost reductions in consequential modelling compared to attributional modelling.
  • Consequential modelling in the ISO standards and in the GHG Protocol, EN15804 for the building industry, and the PEF guidelines.

Learning outcomes:

  • A detailed understanding of the calculation algorithms and how to interpret the results of both attributional and consequential modelling.
  • A detailed understanding of the empirical data and the physical and economic flows and balances included in the two types of models.
  • An understanding of the normative assumptions in the two models and relative uncertainty of the results.
  • An understanding of consequential modelling in relation to compliance with the ISO standards, GHG Protocol, and EU guidelines.
  • A detailed understanding of the conceptual and practical applicability of the attributional and consequential results.

Form and academic recognition:

Form: One full day, 8 hours workshops/exercises + 6 hours pre-course preparation.
Academic recognition: 1 ECTS points. This includes reading a mandatory list of literature.

The practicalities

When and where?:

Participant prerequisites:

4th September, 2024 
Wednesday: 9:00-13.00 & 15:00-19:00
Course venue: Barcelona (precise location will be sent to participants after the registration deadline).

Masters degree or equivalent. Participants must bring own laptop computer. A good understanding and/or experience with life cycle assessment is an asset.

Teaching staff: 

Professor Bo Weidema, Aalborg University
Associate Professor Miguel Brandão, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm

Price and conditions:

1200 EUR – for professionals (consultancy, government bodies, industry, NGO’s, and private)
600 EUR – for university personnel (postdocs, professors)
300 EUR – for PhD students
Second registration from the same institution offered at 50% discount, if enrolling at the same time (enquire before you register). Does not include travel, accommodation and meals. A map will be sent once course is confirmed to guide you as you look for accommodation.

Registration:

Please apply via mail to the course secretary: Peter Zacho Søgaard: peter@ilca.es
Registration deadline: July 4th 2024 – but notice the course is capped so we recommend to apply at your earliest convenience.