Integrated earth system dynamic modeling for life cycle impact assessment of ecosystem services.

摘要: Abstract Despite the increasing awareness of our dependence on Ecosystem Services (ES), Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) does not explicitly and fully assess damages caused by human activities ES generation. Recent improvements in LCIA focus specific cause–effect chains, mainly related to land use changes, leading Characterization Factors (CFs) at midpoint assessment level. However, despite complexity temporal dynamics ES, current approaches consider environmental mechanisms underneath be independent from each other devoid dynamic character, constant CFs whose representativeness is debatable. This paper takes a step forward aimed demonstrating feasibility using an integrated earth system modeling perspective retrieve time- scenario-dependent that complex interlinkages between natural processes delivering ES. The GUMBO (Global Unified Metamodel Biosphere) model used quantify changes production physical terms – welfare indicators, which are considered here as endpoint CFs. interpretation obtained results highlights key methodological challenges solved this approach robust alternative mainstream rationale currently adopted LCIA. Further research should granularity interventions tools match standards LCA adapting conceptual spatially-explicit model.