After completing this course, students are able to

• comprehend the most essential concepts of ecosystem services (ES) and their biophysical processes, functions and structures
• Acquisition of basic concepts of ES (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, TEEB study, ect.).
• Acquisition of principles for LCA through international standards.
• Analysis of a product and its environmental impact through a specific example.
• critically examine the use of resources
• apply specific software for the calculation of LCA as well as the calculation of ES (using the example of trees).

• assess the impact on the environment through LCA
• recognize ES and their non-material and material value to humans and the environment
• identify the impacts of resource overuse on the ecosystem and humans
• recognize the interrelationships and influences of ES on life cycle assessment
• calculate the ES of trees (e.g. the i-Tree Tool software)
• determine their own CO2 balance (e.g. UBA CO2 calculator)
• calculate and offset their own emissions (e.g. myclimate CO2 calculators)
• explain the significance of emissions trading through CO2 certificates
• explain the significance of CO2 certificates for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and emissions trading
• be self-critical about resource use and consumption

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module contents
In this course, students learn the analytical techniques for assessing the environmental impacts of products and the production processes, as well as the most essential concepts of ecosystem services (ES), their services to human well-being, and their biophysical processes, functions, and structures. Thus, students know how to establish a link between ES and life cycle assessment (LCA) and learn the relevance of including ES in LCA. Furthermore, students are introduced to different methods and evaluation processes for the development of an LCA, as well as the CO2 certificate, their economic and ecological relevance and the trading of CO2 certificates according to the principle of "cup & trade".
The following questions will be examined in the course:

• What is life cycle assessment and why is it relevant for the environment and the climate?
• What is the environmental impact of a specific product?
• Who needs an LCA?
• What are ecosystem services and how do they affect people and the environment?
• What are the different concepts of ecosystem services?
• What tools can be used to calculate ecosystem services and what are the calculations needed for?
• Why do ecosystem services have an impact on LCA and how are they related?
• Who benefits from an LCA?
• What is meant by a CO2 certificate?
• What are ISO standards and why are they needed?
• What role does the CO2 certificate play for companies and businesses?
• What is the contribution of each individual person to the reduction of emissions?

Vander Wilde C.P., Newell J.P.: Ecosystem services and life cycle assessment: A bibliometric review. In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling Volume 169, 105461,2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105461.
Grunewald K.: Ecosystem Services - Concept, Methods and Case Studies. 2015; doi:10.1007/978-3-662-44143-5.
Klöpffer W.: Life cycle assessment, Environ. Sci. & Pollut. Res. Vol 4, 223-228, 1997; https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986351.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; Ecosystems and human well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, 2015; ISBN: 1-59726-040-1.
United Nations et al.: System of Environmental-Economic Accounting- Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA). White cover publication, pre-edited text subject to official editing, 2021.
https://seea.un.org/ecosystem-accounting
Vysna V., Maes J., Petersen J.E., La Notte A., Vallecillo S., Aizpurua N., Ivits E., Teller A.: Accounting for ecosystems and their services in the European Union (INCA). Final report from phase II of the INCA project aiming to develop a pilot for an integrated system of ecosystem accounts for the EU. Statistical report. Publications office of the European Union, 2021

Lectures, practical exercises (with tools), interactive work, group work, problem-based learning

Integrated module examination
Immanent examination character:
Active participation, report and presentation, short tests