 Introduction
Concerns over environmental sustainability worldwide have highlighted the need for environmental actions. To achieve sustainable environmental practices, tools for analysis of environmental issues using the system approach are seen to provide a broader view and more comprehensive information to support sound decisions. Here the particular interest is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) - an environmental management tool enabling evaluation and quantification of potential environmental impacts of a product/service from cradle to grave. Although the life cycle concept has been used in some industrial sectors for several years, it has received wider attention and standard methodology development since the beginning of the nineties. Today the LCA methodology is standardized by the ISO 14040-14043 standards and a variety of LCA applications have proliferated widely for measuring the environmental sustainability of products/services. LCA, as an environmental sustainability tool, has received a high level of interest. However, it is only in the early stages of development in developing countries including in APEC. To enhance knowledge and strengthen networking in the region for further development in LCA, the first international workshop on LCA for APEC economies will be held in Thailand on 15-16 December 2005. This will provide opportunities for potential LCA users to gain a better understanding in its methodology and applications and for LCA practitioners to share experiences and promote research collaboration.
Thailand has a high level of awareness and concern about LCA . The Asia Pacific region have shared geographic, economic, and environmental resources. Hence, it is important that cooperation between countries in the APEC is established to further LCA development and use. This workshop will provide a good opportunity for practitioners and users of LCA in the APEC region to strengthen knowledge and networks. It will also provide new and potential users with an excellent introduction to LCA and its current status and application. This workshop is the first international symposium on LCA among APEC economies. It is jointly organized by Thailand’s Cleaner Technology Advancement Program (CTAP), National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and Japanese’s Research Center for Life Cycle Assessment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and supported by MTEC and AIST.
Topics of Discussion
This workshop is divided into four sessions:
[Session-1] National LCI/ LCA Database Development
[Session-2] LCIA Method Development
[Session-3] Case Studies in Thailand
[Session-4] Case Studies in APEC economies
Structure
The workshop will include:
- Keynote and invited presentations with discussions of the topics
- Poster sessions
Participants
The workshop will function as a platform for intensive networking and information exchange. Therefore, representatives from the following target groups are the primary focus:
- Scientists and researchers from domestic and international research institutions and universities
- NGOs, industrial associations and consultancies
- Industries e.g. petrochemical, electrical and electronic, etc.
- Government bodies and state enterprises.
Date, Venue, Official Language
The workshop will be held on December 15 and 16, 2005 at the
Century Park Hotel
9 Ratchaprarop Road, Pratunam-Victory Monument
Bangkok 10400, Thailand
http://www.centuryparkhotel.com/
The official language of all presentations is English.
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