emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr_0-34834343d6f26248.pdf

This briefing describes a Canadian study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) that identifies critical gaps in Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) used to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the built environment. The study warns that current LCAs may mislead decision-makers by omitting biogenic carbon from wood products and ignoring regional variability, potentially resulting in suboptimal decarbonization efforts for buildings.

• Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) in the built environment can produce misleading or incorrect results due to significant gaps in available data and a general lack of disclosure regarding assumptions and uncertainties. This variability can lead to erroneous conclusions and suboptimal GHG outcomes for Canadians.
• LCAs often fail to account for 'biogenic carbon' emissions from wood products during extraction and end-of-life phases, such as soil disturbance, conversion of old-growth primary forests to less productive secondary forests, and failed reforestation. These omitted emissions can represent up to 72% of a wood product's total life cycle emissions, challenging the assumption that wood is lower-carbon than concrete or steel.
• Current LCAs frequently overlook regional variability in GHG emissions, relying instead on national, continental, or global average data. This ignores significant differences in raw material extraction, production carbon intensity, and end-of-life disposal conditions across different sites.
• Existing LCA models may misrepresent embodied emissions by ignoring other significant life cycle contributions, such as operational stage emissions and impacts on other building systems. This narrow focus can divert attention from a comprehensive view of GHG reduction opportunities.
• While reducing embodied emissions is important, the greatest potential for decarbonizing the built environment remains improving energy efficiency and constructing low-energy or net-zero energy buildings. Recommendations include federal investment in updated regional and national LCA inventories and prioritizing material efficiency and low-carbon production technologies.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr_0-34834343d6f26248.pdf. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr_0.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr_0-34834343d6f26248.pdf. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr_0-34834343d6f26248.pdf |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr_0.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndemissionomissionsbackgrounderfr034834343d6f26248pdf, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr\_0-34834343d6f26248.pdf}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/emission-omissions-backgrounder-fr_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }