There’s a new IWA (International Workshop Agreement) available from Document Center Inc. that helps you assess the economic impact of large-scale environmental projects. Titled “Multiple resource evaluation guideline,” this new IWA 13 provides you with a methodology for understanding how supplying one resource can actually negatively impact other resources. The main contributors to the document come from Africa and the Near East, but this new publication is sure to be useful anywhere.
The type of projects that are being discussed are those that are labeled “Multiple-Resource Productivity (MRP) solutions.” These are environmental projects that impact at least 2 resources (like water, energy or food/cropland) without apparently consuming others. The question is: How do you assess a solution’s feasibility and develop your economic cost-benefit analysis?
The approach differs from the usual Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in that it looks at more than 1 material, element, or compound at a time. The MRP process has been developed because of the complexity of renewable resources. It’s used in order to determine a broader picture of how projects may affect other “assets” and impact sustainability.
There’s a number of examples of this given in the document: The fact that food growth requires not only land, but water and energy for transport to market. Or energy production requires land and perhaps water as well. So when a project may seem to be focused on 1 resource, prudent development should take others into account as well. In other words, a solution that promotes the development of 1 type of resource will surely consume another.
The bulk of the IWA 13 covers the MRP suggested methodology. And after a review of the three main components used in the analysis (water, energy and food/cropland), detailed information is provided on how to determine how your project may increase or decrease each component.
Once you understand the methodology, Annex A will give you the algorithm needed for comparison of solutions. There’s also an example which makes it clear how the process works. A 53-item bibliography completes the publication.
Now you need a copy of IWA 13. You’ll want to use an authorized distributor and there’s no organization better than Document Center Inc. You can order at our webstore, www.document-center.com. Or contact our staff by phone (650-591-7600), fax (650-591-7617) or email (info@document-center.com). We’ve been working with folks like you since 1982 and on the web since 1993. Make Document Center your Standards Experts!
