The paper provides learning about past failures in the uptake of sustainability imperatives from qualitative discourse analysis of selected public communication, from reviewing a novel framework and from case studies in one scientific field. Resultant concepts, strategies and solutions are offered with potential to quell emerging threats and facilitate ecological remediation. Life cycle assessments (LCA) of certified ecolabelled and business as usual production systems with comparable spatiotemporal resolution and uncertainty were reviewed. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) frameworks cover damages to supply, climate, habitat and human health loss. With a negative range stopping at zero, LCIA excludes positive gains in supply, climate, human and habitat security. Results of risk and benefit analysis considering strength, weakness, opportunity and threat for sustainability reporting exposed gaps creating chasms in communications. In response Evah Associates compiled the life cycle benefit assessment LCBA2020 framework for positive development. LCBA methods were developed to quantify gains in regeneration and reparation of supply, climate, habitat and wellness within planetary boundaries safe operating space. Methods were tested to supplement third party verified LCA of real-world lumber, paper, personal care and recycling product for certified ecolabels as well as whole buildings as-built and as-designed. Benefit and damage metrics are compared for supply, climate, human and habitat outcomes. Results are also shown as carbon drawdown ratings and circularity scores useful for circular economy and United Nations sustainable development goals. The work concludes LCA is one of many impactful methods counting negativity that fails to engage people or quantify sustainability. Recommendations include that positive climate and habitat security narratives can be made compelling. Proof of competitive advantage requires quantification of benefits minus burdens. Justification of investment demands reporting of gain versus loss inside planetary boundaries. Finally, it is an imperative to engage people in counting benefits and gains.
the evah institute, a Division of ecquate Pty ltd, australia 2 vlieglCa, spain abstraCt this paper highlights the urgent need to increase the understanding and uptake of positive messaging, metrics and analysis to facilitate learning across all areas of community and professional environmental education. it examines the failures of current environmental sustainability reporting, communication and learning frameworks to inspire and engage people. it then shows the quantification of 'unsustainability' inherent in the development of world-first automated whole-building life Cycle assessment and life Cycle impact assessment (lCia) software. by focussing on a negative range that stops at zero, lCia excludes positive gains in security of supply, climate, habitat and wellness. through case studies, the authors show how practitioners sought to improve sustainability education. they also sought to measure positive gains by developing life Cycle benefit analysis (lCba) compiled to quantify positive development gains within planetary boundaries' safe operating space. lCba was tested in third-party-certified environmental Product Declarations and building projects. Case studies compare benefit and damage metrics for supply, climate, habitat and wellness outcomes, carbon drawdown ratings and circularity scores. the authors report what consultants, teachers, interns and clients learnt about gaps in environmental education frameworks in other institutions. they reflect on how to expand positive sustainability messaging and learning across industry, community and education from primary to post-graduate and professional accreditation. of vital significance is the need to address youth and student anger and apathy in response to the locked-in devastating climate change and wildlife extinctions they have inherited. the authors assert the critical need to engage people of all generations in counting benefits and gains and offer positive sustainability development strategies to this end. among the recommendations is the need for positive climate and habitat security narratives to activate interest, empower responses and motivate teaching and learning.
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