One of the areas of work within Lumet is life cycle assessment (LCA) of metal and mineral value-chains. Although LCA is commonly considered synonymous with “carbon footprints,” there is at least one crucial difference: LCA looks beyond carbon.
Climate change is certainly an important issue, but it is not the only important issue. In their 2024 Global Resources Outlook report from the United Nations International Resource Panel (IRP) identifies the “triple planetary crisis” – climate change, loss of nature and biodiversity, and pollution – as environmental areas needing urgent attention.
According to the foundational methodological standards on LCA – from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) – LCA should address a comprehensive set of environmental “impact categories.” Aside from climate change, commonly assessed impact categories include acidification, eutrophication, and human and ecological toxicity. The reason for evaluating multiple types of environmental impacts is similar to the reason for evaluating impacts over multiple life cycle (or value-chain) stages: the potential for “problem-shifting.” Focusing narrowly on carbon as the sole environmental performance metric risks unintended adverse consequences.
And let’s not forget that sustainability is about more than environmental aspects. Impacts on local communities, for example, are especially relevant for mining and metallurgical operations. Considering social and economic impacts, Lumet researchers have previously published on the geopolitical risks in product value chains.
So yes, we should be concerned about carbon. But let’s not stop there.