In 2019, the 9 partners of the Interreg Europe LCA4regions project set out on a journey to improve environment and resource efficiency by expanding the use of life cycle methods when conceiving and implementing environmental public policies.

They took 7 stops across Europe – the Transnational Learning Journeys – focusing on 7 aspects of life cycle assessment (LCA) during which they shared experiences, challenges and opportunities on selected topics. On their way they also collected a treasure trove of 57 Good Practices for developing more holistic and sustainable regional environmental policies using life cycle methods.

Supported by their stakeholders and experts, the participating regions have now translated the experience gained and good practices discovered into detailed Action Plans to achieve concrete improvements at local level.

Using their new LCA methods and insights, the LCA4Regions partners are ready to implement these Action Plans and continue their journey towards improved environment and resource efficiency. But before that, they stopped in Brussels on 12 May to share a summary of their adventure and discuss how to apply LCA to improve policy planning and actively make conscious decisions on resource efficiency and investments, with a focus on the sustainable built environment.

Presentations

Agenda

09:30
Registrations
09:45 – 10:15

Opening
Welcome words
Francesco Lembo, ACR+

Presentation of the LCA4regions project
Irene Eslava, AIN

    10:15 – 10:30

    Some background to regional sustainability - frameworks and actions
    Fritz Balkau, Forum for Sustainability for Life Cycle Innovation

    10:30 – 11:30

    Roundtable 1: LCA for policy planning
    Alessandro Dacomo, Lombardy Region
    Pekka Maijala, Pyhäjärvi Institute
    Francesco Lembo, ACR+

      11:30 – 12:30

      Roundtable 2: LCA in Action - Focus on sustainable built environment
      Moderation: Jolanta Dvarioniene, Kaunas University of Technology

      Josefina Lindblom DG ENV, Level(s)
      Adam Szymanski, Lodzkie Region
      Giorgio Bonvicini, RINA

        12:30 – 13:30
        Lunch break
        13:30 – 15:00

        LCA4regions Action Plans
        Moderated by Fritz Balkau, Forum for Sustainability for Life Cycle Innovation

        Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
        Government of Navarre
        Pyhäjärvi Institute/Satakunta Region
        National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
        Lodzkie Region
        Lombardy Region
        CIMBAL - Baixo Alentejo Intermunicipal Community

          Q&A

          15:00 – 15:30
          Closing remarks


          Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash