1 / 17

A Comparison of US and Canadian Industry Environmental Performance Using EIO-LCA Models

A Comparison of US and Canadian Industry Environmental Performance Using EIO-LCA Models. by Andrew Bjorn Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Urban Planning University of Washington Heather L. MacLean Department of Civil Engineering University of Toronto 27 September 2003. An Overview….

psyche
Download Presentation

A Comparison of US and Canadian Industry Environmental Performance Using EIO-LCA Models

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. A Comparison of US and Canadian Industry Environmental Performance Using EIO-LCA Models by Andrew Bjorn Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Urban Planning University of Washington Heather L. MacLean Department of Civil Engineering University of Toronto 27 September 2003

  2. An Overview… • Basic concepts of the EIO-LCA model • EIO-LCA in the US and Canada • Creating the Canadian EIO-LCA model • Comparisons between models • Concluding remarks

  3. What are Input-Output (IO) Models? • Introduced by Wasily Leontief in 1941 • used to identify bottlenecks in wartime production • Based on lists of transactions between industries (System of National Accounts) • Assesses total economic impacts associated with an increase in “final demand”

  4. The Environment and IO Models • Some researchers have correlated environmental impacts with commodity outputs: • Water use • Solid waste production • Ecological footprints • Energy use • Carnegie Mellon Green Design Initiative: Environmental Input-Output Model

  5. The EIO-LCA as an Equation This model can be expressed in matrix form: ΔE = [E * (I - BD)-1] ΔY where:ΔE = change in environmental factors E = environmental coefficients B = direct requirements matrix D = market share matrix (I - BD)-1 = total requirements matrix ΔY = column vector of demand change

  6. Assessment of EIO-LCA Approach • Advantages • economy-wide analysis solves scoping problem • quick results possible with analysis • provides an understanding of interrelationships • Disadvantages • not geographically sensitive • use, disposal phases of life-cycle not included • commodity sectors are very aggregated

  7. Economic Components • Based on data from Statistics Canada • M-level input-output tables • 62 industries, 103 commodities • commodity-by-industry make and use tables • monetary values given in 1992 dollars • Data suppression is a significant issue • some statistics unavailable - privacy concerns • data estimated from 1992-1997 data

  8. Environmental Components • Greenhouse gas emissions • data from Environment Canada inventory • CO2, methane, nitrous oxide • Nonrenewable resource use • data from NRCan, Environment Canada • fuel use, aluminum, iron ore, copper, nickel • National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI) • 1998 data - 130 waste compounds • air emissions, total waste emissions

  9. Comparing the US and Canada • Preliminary test of Canadian EIO-LCA model • Some important differences to note: • Greater proportion of Canada is in cold climate • More hydroelectric capacity in Canada • Exporter of natural resources • Differences in regulations, reporting strategies (i.e. TRI versus NPRI) • Differences in commodity reporting

  10. Comparing the US and Canada • Test scenario to compare models: • final demand: US$1 million (1997 dollars) • C$1.36 million (1992 dollars, 1998 model) • Ten sectors examined:

  11. Comparison - Economic impact Economic multiplier Sector

  12. Comparison - Energy Energy Required (TJ / $ million) Sector

  13. Comparison - Electricity Electricity Required (GW-h / $ million) Sector

  14. Comparison - GHG emissions GHG emissions increase ( Mt CO2 eq / $ million) Sector

  15. Concluding Remarks • Notable differences in model results • differences in classifications, economic structure (note inefficiencies in certain sectors) • errors in data analysis • actual differences in impacts between countries • May be significant regional differences • Manitoba, Quebec: more hydro • Alberta, Saskatchewan: more fossil-fuel • Further research to confirm conclusions

  16. Concluding Remarks • Final goal: creating a bi-regional EIO-LCA model • Importance of bilateral trade: 35% of US exports to Canada, 90% of Canadian exports to US • Increasing integration of economic sectors: • Automotive • Hydroelectricity • Forestry • Oil and gas • Necessary to provide an international scope

  17. Acknowledgements Laura Declercq-Lopez and Sabrina Spatari University of Toronto Prof. William Beyers Department of Geography, University of Washington Prof. Marina Alberti Department of Urban Planning, University of Washington

More Related