life cycle assessment and governance · oslo 29-30 nov. 2016 . context • life cycle assessment...
TRANSCRIPT
Life cycle assessment and
governance
The case of the high north
Johan Berg Pettersen & Xingqiang Song
SMART Conference: Life-cycle based management and
reporting for sustainable businesses. Oslo 29-30 Nov. 2016
Context
• Life cycle assessment (LCA) strongpoints
– Value chain perspective
– Broad impact scope
• LCA is increasingly used to guide and enforce European policy (governance)
– Waste, energy, ecodesign, pollution prevention, product declaration…
• LCA not adapted to Norwegian and/or Arctic context
– Poor marine appreciation
– European mainland vs European high north outskirts
Aim: Investigate the applicability of LCA (for governance) in the high north
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 2
Nussir case (1)
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north
OSLO
NUSSIR mine, Repparfjord (70ᵒ25’ N, 24ᵒ33’ E )
3
2 million tons copper ore/year
• 94-95.5% Cu recovery
• 50,000 ton/year (permit) 45% Cu concentrate produced
• Significant European scale
Submarine tailings disposal
• 97-99% of the ore deposited as tailings
Process plant
Nussir case (2)
Working paper (submitted):
What can be achieved by cleaner
production in mining: Life Cycle
Assessment of tailings
management and energy
scenarios for a copper ore mine in
Northern Norway
Song, X., Pettersen, J.B., Pedersen, K.B., Røberg, S.
“Cradle-to-gate” mining LCA
• ReCiPe method, SimaPro software
• FU: 1 kg of Cu in concentrate
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 4
Nussir case – significance of Arctic (onsite) emissions
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north
0 %
20 %
40 %
60 %
80 %
100 %
CC TA FE ME HT POF PMF TET FET MET
Diesel (truck) - Arctic
Blasting - Arctic
Mineral dust - Arctic
Tailings management- Arctic
Other process inputs -non Arctic
5
Nussir case – relative importance of Arctic impacts
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 6
0 %
20 %
40 %
60 %
80 %
100 %
Human Health Ecosystems
Diesel (truck) - Arctic
Blasting - Arctic
Mineral dust - Arctic
Tailings management -Arctic
Other process inputs -non Arctic
Contrasting world views
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north
The view from the high north European LCIA scope
Meltofte (e.d), 2013, Arctic biodiversity assessment LOTOS-EUROS, used by van Zelm et al, 2013, in Recipe LCIA method
(The master domain of LOTOS-EUROS: 10ᵒ W–60ᵒ E, 35ᵒ–70ᵒ N)
Parameter: Ozone (μg/m3)
7
Some characteristics of the Arctic
• Large temperature variation, by season and location
– Extreme seasonality, ice/snow cover, rivers on/off
• Low levels of precipitation, seasonal variation
– Most as snow, run-off in spring
– Spring melt stratification (freshwater & marine)
• Generally lower biodiversity (weighting issue)
• High seasonal variability, long winter, short productive
season and limited primary production
– Low: terrestrial diversity, fish species (ca. 3-20),
little (or missing) zooplankton
– Marine: high degree of intraspecific variability
• Scattered, low population density, coastal settlements
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north
Monthly average discharge from the Eurasian Arctic drainage (Bring et al 2016)
8
Overview – Arctic case study
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 9
Overview – Arctic case study table
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 10
Overview – Arctic case study table
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 11
Overview – Arctic case study table
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 12
Seasonality Snow Spring melt Ocean & fjord processes Ecological sensitivity? Biodiversity? Population
Low
Low
Overview – Arctic case study table
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 13
Low
Low
Research outlook & further work
• Framework of LCA highly relevant, currently not applicable for governance
– Local/marine impacts and Arctic conditions not properly covered
• Gaps in the LCIA framework for Arctic conditions & marine processes
– population density, pollutant dispersion regimes, seasonality and winter effects, colder climate
– More detailed sensitivity analysis for impacts of Arctic conditions?
• Seek closer cooperation
– Norwegian policy/governance & LCA practitioners: develop governance cases & demands
– Norwegian marine/Arctic competence & LCIA method developers: better impact methods
• Development motivated by governance demands in coastal, marine and marine-based activity
– High north/Arctic applications: oil/gas, mining, aquaculture, fisheries, shipping
29.11.2016 LCA and governance: the case of the high north 14
Life cycle assessment and
governance
The case of the high north
Johan Berg Pettersen & Xingqiang Song
SMART Conference: Life-cycle based management and
reporting for sustainable businesses. Oslo 29-30 Nov. 2016