Ecosystem quality

Christina Wulf

Chapter 52 in Elgar Encyclopedia of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment, 2026, pp 181-183 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Ecosystem quality is a vital aspect of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), encompassing the condition and health of ecosystems, including their biodiversity, structure, and functioning. It is one of the three areas of protection in the LCA framework, which can be assessed at either the midpoint or the endpoint levels. Assessing ecosystem quality is crucial for identifying potential risks and benefits associated with different choices, aiding in promoting sustainable development. Efforts in LCA have focused on developing various measures of ecosystem damage, including indicators like the potentially disappeared fraction of species (PDF). The PDF, recommended by the UNEP–SETAC Life Cycle Initiative, quantifies the proportion of species within an ecosystem that could potentially vanish, accounting for differences in susceptibility across ecosystems. Ecosystem quality assessment remains an active field of research in LCA. Recent developments include a coherent impact assessment method package for ecosystem quality at the endpoint level, regionalization of characterization factors, and impacts on marine ecosystems. These advancements aim to improve the understanding and assessment of ecosystem quality, providing valuable insights for sustainable decision-making and environmental management in the future.

Keywords: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Ecosystem Quality; Biodiversity; Impact Assessment Potentially Disappeared Fraction (PDF); Sustainable Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035309887
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