A Review of Embodied Carbon in Landscape Architecture. Practice and Policy

Nikologianni, Anastasia; Plowman, Theodoros; Brown, Benjamin

doi:10.3390/c8020022

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Of the six key tools currently dealing with landscape or elements of landscape architecture (e.g., trees) the key characteristics are presented in a table below (Section 4). The two most recent tools are introduced by this paper, whilst the remaining four have been previously examined [23]. Following a brief industry-informed overview of the tools' effectiveness and applicability, the most comprehensive was selected to demonstrate its capabilities and limitations as a way of measuring carbon from the perspective of landscape architecture.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…IPCC makes it clear that policy plays a major role in addressing climate related issues, as it states that "without a strengthening in policies beyond those that are implemented by the end of 2020, GHG emissions are projected to rise beyond 2025, leading to a median global warming of 3.2 • C (2.2 to 3.5 • C) by 2100" [29]. Despite such warnings, most professional regulations relating to carbon in the urban environment come from the construction or building industries [17,27,41], with a notable lack of policy pertaining to landscape [23,[42][43][44]. Lin and Lin make it clear that "there are currently no international calculation guidelines for carbon footprint exclusive to landscape, [and therefore] it is reasonable to assume that any landscaping LCA should follow EN15978" [35].…”

Section: Policy and Regulation Standardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As policy and regulations do not provide specific requirements and support for the landscape, it is inevitable that carbon calculation tools specifically designed for the landscape are limited. Until recently four tools focusing on carbon calculation with some spatial characteristics were available, but not all of them use a landscape-led approach [23]; one focuses on trees (i-Tree) and one being designed especially for landscape architects (Pathfinder). The Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator (EC3) calculates carbon related to materials and construction and can be used in planning or procurement phase of a project.…”

Section: Carbon Assessment Tools In Landscape Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The i-tree tool is considered significant as it gives accurate information on trees, but it does not provide a holistic view for landscape designs. The Pathfinder, i-Tree, PCA and EC3 tools above have been presented in previous research [23], but a short overview of the two new tools by this paper is considered necessary.…”

Section: Carbon Assessment Tools In Landscape Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

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The Complex Case of Carbon-Measuring Tools in Landscape Architecture

Nikologianni

Albans

2023

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As the world takes a more strategic approach to the climate crisis, carbon in its various forms has become a key factor in ascertaining the sustainability of the landscape. Landscape has been recognised as a resource and mechanism for addressing the role of carbon in the environment, with literature focused on the landscape’s carbon capacity as interconnected systems of land, soil, water and organic life. It has, however, largely neglected the crucial role of the cultural, social and historical aspects of the landscape, particularly at the level of design. This paper acknowledges and explores the complexity of landscape as a natural-cultural system with the consequent difficulties this poses in legislating, calculating and measuring carbon for global, national and local targets for low/zero carbon and carbon offsetting. The discussion takes place in the arena of landscape architecture at regional/city/local scales and the life-cycle of a project including its integration into its wider social, cultural and environmental setting. This paper develops the discourse in three major areas: first, by examining how the complexity of landscape is obscured in the context of carbon-measuring tools used in landscape architecture; secondly exploring one such tool in practice to demonstrate how site-specific design decisions can impact carbon levels; and third by proposing how an integrated understanding of landscape can be built into projects to embrace complexity and operationalise low carbon visions.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Policy and Regulation Standardsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Carbon Assessment Tools In Landscape Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Carbon Assessment Tools In Landscape Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

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The Complex Case of Carbon-Measuring Tools in Landscape Architecture

Nikologianni

Albans

2023

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“…From an urban planning point of view, it has long been apparent that construction and management of low-carbon cities is a pressing concern (e.g., Selman, 2010). However, there is still only limited recognition of this within the landscape industry and there is insufficient guidance on how design principles, material selection, construction and maintenance can contribute to low/high carbon footprint (Kuittinen et al, 2021;Nikologianni et al, 2022). A tangible approach to the carbon dynamics of urban outdoor space requires creation of new policies and tools.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How green is an urban tree? The impact of species selection in reducing the carbon footprint of park trees in Swedish cities

Lind

Prade

Deak

et al. 2023

Front. Sustain. Cities

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IntroductionPlanting trees in urban areas can mitigate some of the emissions generated in cities by carbon sequestration (annual uptake of CO2 through the process of photosynthesis) and carbon storage (amount of carbon stored in the tree's biomass throughout its lifespan). The aim of this study was to calculate the carbon footprint from nursery production to final establishment of different tree species grown for planting in urban parks in a northern European context.Material and methodsThe analysis included a cradle-to-gate approach and investigated the amount of carbon the adult trees needed to sequester in order to compensate for initial carbon emissions and which temporal perspectives are of concern. Greenhouse gas emissions were estimated based on an inventory of consumption of fuels, energy, materials and other production inputs during cultivation, delivery, planting and establishment of three different tree species in three different locations in Sweden. The tree species considered in the analysis (Salix alba, Quercus rubra, Pinus sylvestris) were selected due to significant differences in their growth rates. Salix alba is a competitive strategist in resource-rich habitats, and is proficient at converting these resources into vigorous growth. Pinus sylvestris is a pronounced stress strategist with good ability to handle resource-limited habitats, and invests in traits accordingly, resulting in significantly slower development. Quercus rubra has its main distribution in cool and moderately resource-rich habitats, but has relatively high stress tolerance and can be considered intermediate between the other two species in terms of growth rate.Results and discussionThe results showed that within 16 years of planting, all species in all three cities, except Pinus sylvestris planted in Umeå, compensated for initial carbon emissions, i.e. showed net absorption of CO2 after emissions from cultivation, delivery, planting and establishment of the trees had been deducted. There was a clear link between the time by which compensation of initial carbon emissions was achieved and growth rate of the different species, with the fast-growing Salix alba showing the best results. The single largest source of emissions among all activities carried out during cultivation, delivery and planting of all species, regardless of the city in which they were planted, was fuel consumption during tree planting.

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