What is life-cycle assessment and why is it important in energy policy?

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Life-cycle assessment looks at environmental impacts across the entire life of a product or system—from cradle to grave, including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, use, and end-of-life disposal or recycling. This broad view matters in energy policy because it lets policymakers compare options on a consistent, full-burden basis rather than focusing only on emissions during operation. By considering energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, water use, and other impacts at every stage, LCA helps identify where the biggest environmental gains can be made and prevents shifting burdens from one phase to another. It supports decisions about energy technologies, supply chains, and waste management, guiding standards and policies toward reducing the overall environmental burden rather than solving just part of the problem.