LCA for Efficacy Validation of Environmental Efficiency and CO2 Emission Mitigation Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

Contemporary global economic activities driven by production and the intensification of international trade have resulted in increased environmental degradation (e.g., global warming due to CO₂  emissions). This is exacerbated by the rapid growth in consumption due to a growing population that relies on finite natural resources. Consequently, socio-environmental systems are being negatively impacted upon [1, 2]. The associated complexities of these challenges has led to a surge in demand for sustainable systems and practices. Addressing these challenges without destabilizing industrial and business processes whilst functioning within the safe operating zone of the planetary boundaries has therefore become a matter of global concern and urgency [3]. Indeed, the global community acknowledges the need to embrace and implement sustainable systems and practices. However, there are challenges regarding the validation of the efficacy of such systems. Advances in environmental efficiency and CO₂ emission mitigation strategies must therefore be augmented with validation and verification principles to ascertain their efficacy [4, 5]. This will allow the quantitative evaluation of the eco-efficiency gains or losses associated with these strategies, ensuring that products and services are developed with an optimal balance between quality of life and environmental burden [6].

The pertinent question therefore becomes “how can we ensure the efficacy of environmental efficiency and CO₂ emission mitigation strategies?” In the quest to answer this question, life cycle assessment (LCA) has emerged as an invaluable computational tool for the assessment of the energy requirements and environmental profile of different product systems from cradle to grave [7, 8]. LCA finds applications in business strategy, research and development, product manufacturing/design, education, policy development, labelling and product declarations, sales and procurement, and many others [9]. However, the development and application of LCA is fraught with practical challenges. This includes methodological differences, systems boundary truncation, difficulties in understanding the future landscape of sustainable systems and practices, a dearth of data, lack of communications and collaborations between sustainable systems developers and LCA modelers, and many more [10, 11]. Nevertheless, the application of LCA in a manner that anticipates predictable negative impacts while simultaneously recognizing opportunities for improvement could facilitate the timely evaluation of environmental and resource implications of sustainable systems and practices [4, 5] .

Thus, this Special Issue welcomes and encourages the submission of high-quality manuscripts in the wide area of LCA for Efficacy Validation of Environmental Efficiency and CO₂ Emission Mitigation Strategies, focusing on but not limited to the following topics: (i) environmental impacts assessment; (ii) uncertainty and sensitivity analysis; (iii) end-of-life management; (iv) regulatory framework and legislation; (v) parameterized models enabled by AI/machine learning for accurate prediction of the efficacy of CO₂ mitigation strategies across their lifecycle.

Dr. Taofeeq Ibn-Mohammed
Dr. Adolf Acquaye
Dr. Khameel B. Mustapha
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• life cycle assessment
• sustainable systems
• energy efficiency
• CO₂ mitigation strategies, climate change
• material efficiency for a low-carbon future
• life cycle modelling of emerging low-carbon technologies