Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become an essential tool for quantifying and understanding the environmental impacts of modern life. As such, it serves as a powerful lens through which to examine the benefits and challenges that will shape the future of our society. On one hand, LCA supports the development of sustainable solutions - such as those in the green energy sector - by identifying opportunities to reduce environmental burdens. On the other hand, it reveals the increasing complexity and risks associated with our current patterns of consumption and production.
Today, the insights provided by LCA are more critical than ever. Environmental degradation, resource depletion, and climate change are global challenges that transcend national borders and planetary boundaries. Addressing these issues requires a fundamental shift in how we assess, design, and manage products and systems throughout their entire life cycle.
This raises two key questions:
- How can we best use LCA to guide the green transition?
- And what role should science and engineering play in shaping a more sustainable future?
These are the central questions that Morten Birkved will explore in his inaugural lecture. Drawing on his extensive experience in quantitative sustainability assessment, environmental risk analysis, and dynamic modelling, Morten will discuss how LCA can inform policymakers and industrial stakeholders, support innovation, and guide society toward circular and low-impact economies.