Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions through life cycle assessment (LCA) of concrete road pavements in Metro Manila

The construction sector is considered to be one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. This environmental hazard had continuously pose a threat to our environmental development as well as our safety. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of factors in construction materials and/or practices is important to determine the governing cause/s of these greenhouse gas emissions. With the Philippines having an agreement lined to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the country aims and is expected to lower its greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere. To be able to quantify and analyze these greenhouse gas emission, a comprehensive tool must be used in order to assess the whole life cycle of a product, process, material, or activity. This comprehensive tool is called life cycle assessment (LCA). Through the use of life cycle assessment, the environmental impact of concrete road pavements can be quantified and analyzed in order to gain an understanding of how much greenhouse gas the construction industry alone contributes and how this would aid in making the country more sustainable. This study aims to provide a clearer understanding of this problem and suggest preventive measures by means of a thorough life cycle assessment on the different stages of the construction of a concrete road pavement. In this study, the initial three stages of the life cycle, material production, construction and use, of a concrete road pavement is assessed. Using the software SimaPro, the greenhouse gas emission of each phase of the life cycle of a concrete road pavement is evaluated and significant factors that are causing the greenhouse gas emissions are identified.