Tale of two cities: environmental life cycle assessment for telecommunications systems: Stockholm, Sweden and Sacramento, CA

This paper summarizes the findings of a lifecycle impact assessment study consistent with the ISO 14041/ISO 14042 DIS standards. This study involved teams from key suppliers and telecom partners and describes the telecommunications systems in two cities: Stockholm, Sweden and Sacramento, CA, USA. The study is the first application of a system-life-cycle impact assessment (S-LCIA) in the telecom industry and uses the life-cycle stressor-effects assessment (LCSEA) methodology. A major goal of the study to provide a baseline impact profile of environmental impacts of the telecom system across the lifecycle. This S-LCIA baseline is it necessary precursor to evaluate the environmental implications of the use and growth of telecommunications and to develop possible environmental improvement strategies such as supply-chain management initiatives and applications of telecommuting and alternative work arrangements. The system wide assessment produced impact profiles for each city at three levels: system infrastructural operation, equipment manufacturing and full system including peripherals. Selected findings from this study are presented in this paper.