Tim’s reflections on GLAM project - UN Environment Programme

Alongside 40 brilliant scientific minds, Tim has been busy working on the GLAM project for The Life Cycle Initiative hosted by the UN Environment Programme.

The GLAM project is focused on addressing the challenge of developing a standardized and globally harmonized method for quantifying Life cycle environmental impacts on human health, ecosystems and natural resources. The project team has put in many hours of dedicated work, and as a result, the Global GLAM LCIA method has reached a consensus and is set to launch in early 2024.

Tim shares some reflections following his time in Copenhagen:

Having 40 world-leading scientists is both exhilarating and intimidating at the same time. It could also be a recipe for over complication however in the LCA areas we are used to matching science with the art of the possible and practical. Parsimonious - as simple as it can be and as complex as it needs to be - is the guiding principle here.

New developments are many with the use phase of LCA coming into focus with impact categories such as diet and physical exercise. Additionally the task of regionalization of impact categories - continues at pace in the water land and even particulates impact categories.

The GLAM process, which is based on voluntary contributions from hundreds of scientists benefits from people’s generosity and the voluntary approach creates a purity of motive as compared to fully funded research. On the flip side, the lack of funding makes it extremely hard to meet deadlines and demand people’s attention. Somehow finding a better way to leverage small amounts of funding to translate new developments into the life cycle impact assessment domain could provide a more optimal approach.