It is the WEIGHTING of different environmental effects or impacts that
requires subjective judgment. But, even that can be made systematic (not
objective, but potentially consistent) by using consistent criteria and
applying them consistently. Values will still enter in. That is unavoidable.
That is exactly why I insist that we talk about them - if we don't, then we
are likely just using those of the people who are currently empowered by
default. We should not refuse to talk about values that we don't share,
whether we think we can change them or not. We cannot change them if we do
not talk about them.
The value choices are always present. They cannot be avoided. Not discussing
them or pretending they are not there, or not making them explicit does not
make them go away. It simply hides them from view and precludes discussion.
Why are we so afraid to discuss values? Just because we may disagree? All
the important decisions are made with tremendous dependence on embedded
values. Sustainability is about values - valuing other species, and valuing
other humans, living now and in the future.
If we confront decision-makers with questions about the values choices they
make and expose their choices to discussion and to scrutiny by the masses,
then we may find a different set of values will be chosen. Is that a naive
belief in some phantom democracy? Maybe. I don't know.
If you are interested in pursuing this further, here are references to some
European publications that deal with these things directly. If you are
interested, I strongly recommend you acquire them. I am willing to discuss
these issues with anyone who is really interested in doing so.
REFERENCES:
The bible on LCA from Europe is the so-called "Leiden report" - the complete
reference is: Heijungs, R., J.B. Guinée, G. Huppes, R.M. Lankreijer, H.A.
Udo de Haes, A. Wegener Sleeswijk, 1992. "Environmental Life Cycle
Assessment of Products," (2 volumes). National Institute of Public Health
and Environmental Protection, The Netherlands. These are detailed reports on
life cycle assessment methodology, European style.
They also have two reports in which they actually do weighting similar to
what I am recommending. Those reports are M. Goedkoop, "The
EcoIndicator'95,"( two volumes, Final Report and Designers Guide). PRé
Consultants
They are all available from
PRé Consultants, Plotterweg 12, 3821 BB Amersfoort, the Netherlands. tel +31
33 4555022, fax +31 33 4555024. email: info@pre.nl, web site: www.pre.nl.
[These are the same folks that developed and sell the SimaPro software in
Europe.]
SimaPro (LCA software) is available in the U.S. from Decision Dynamics, 409
Glyndon St., SE, Vienna, VA 22180, 703-319-3944, fax 703-319-3943
GregNorris@aol.com ]
******************************************************
Hal Levin <hlevin@cruzio.com>
2548 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Tel. 408 425 3946 Fax 408 426 6522
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