CLF Embodied Carbon Toolkit for Roadway Infrastructure Part 2: Accounting for Embodied Carbon in Roadway Infrastructure

Abstract

Embodied carbon accounting is critical to identify key contributors to embodied carbon, evaluate the highest-impact, most cost-effective reduction opportunities, and track progress toward a net-zero carbon future. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a standardized methodology for quantifying the environmental impacts of a process, product, or system (e.g. building or roadway) over its entire life cycle, from material extraction (“cradle”) to disposal (“grave”). LCAs globally follow a family of standards through an open stakeholder development process. ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 are example standards that describe the principles and framework for LCA and lay out basic requirements. This toolkit focuses on LCA related to roadway infrastructure, construction materials, and related processes to manufacture and build roadways. Using LCA, greenhouse gas emissions are added up across the life cycle and reported as global warming potential (GWP). Here, we explore frameworks, methods, and insights into how LCA can help create an accounting mechanism for embodied carbon from roadway infrastructure.