Syllabus academic year 2007/2008
ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS STUDIES: LIFE CYCLE ANALYSISFMI055

Higher education credits: 7,5. Grading scale: TH. Level: A (Second level). Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish. Optional for: E4em, W4, W4ma. Course coordinator: Pål Börjesson, pal.borjesson@miljo.lth.se, Miljö- och energisystem. Prerequisites: FMI065 or FMI100/GEMF01. Recommended prerequisits: Minimum 130 credits within the program. The course might be cancelled if the numer of applicants is less than 12. Assessment: Continuous assessment of the student’s work through participation in exercises and seminars together with approved project including presentation, and written examination. Minimum 80% attendance at lectures; attendance at seminars and presentations is mandatory. Satisfactory assignments. For the project to be graded, the course director should have been able to follow the work process. The final grade is based 2/3 on the project and 1/3 on the exam. Home page: http://www.miljo.lth.se.

Aim
The general aim of the course is that the student should acquire an understanding of environmental systems analysis and its complexity, be stimulated to discuss and reflect on the possibilities of assessing the total environmental impact of a product or a service, and be trained in critical thinking, the identification and definition of a problem, and the writing of reports.

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must

Contents
The methodology of LCA according to ISO 14041-43 is described in lectures.Various life cycle analyses are examined in exercises: how well do they comply with the demands of the ISO standard. The limitations of today´s LCA methodology are discussed as well as possible improvements. The results of these studies are discussed in seminars.

A project includes the performance of a broad life cycle analysis. The results of the projects are presented and discussed at the final seminar.

Literature
Rydh, CJ, Lindahl, M & Tingström, J: Livscykelanalys, en metod för miljöbedömning av produkter och tjänster. Lund: Studentlitteratur 2003.
Compendium.
The literature listed was used in 2006; due to rapid changes in the field the list may be revised in 2007.