LCA from policy planning to implementation

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

• Presentation of the LCA4Regions project
  Irene Eslava, AIN
  

• Some background to regional sustainability - frameworks and actions
  Fritz Balkau, Forum for Sustainability for Life Cycle Innovation
• Introduction roundtable 1: LCA for policy planning - The LCA4regions policy roadmap
  Alessandro Dacomo, Lombardy Region
  
• Introduction roundtable 2: LCA in Action - Focus on sustainable built environment
  Jolanta Dvarioniene, Kaunas University of Technology
• Action plans
• Lithuania
• Navarra
• Satakunta Region
• Western Slovenia
• Lodzkie Region
• Lombardy Region
• Baixo Alentejo

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