Why is embodied energy a reliable indicator of environmental impact?

Environmental sustainability can only arise from a reduction in the consumption of limited physical resources (soil, air, water, energy,…).

Every traded product/service has an environmental cost, as resources are used for its production/transportation/delivery. Among these, e resource is always present in every commercial exchange: the energy.

Energy production is the main source of GHG emissions, particularly methane and CO2.

The energy sector contributes to the vast majority of GHG emissions. Globally, in addition to the sector’s direct emissions (especially those related to energy production from fossil fuels), those from transportation, agriculture, and industry must be added, which are in turn caused by the energy consumption of these sectors.

Among the GHG emissions not directly related to energy production and consumption (and therefore not considered in the CED), the main ones are those caused by livestock and agricultural processes (particularly animal waste in meat and dairy production) and by specific production processes (e.g. cement).

Embodied energy in products is a less reliable indicator of some specific aspects of the environmental crisis, such as biodiversity loss, noise pollution, water eutrophication, and other phenomena. However, reducing energy consumption generally has an an effect on these phenomena, making this indicator relevant even in relation to them.