IMPACT World+ v2.1 highlights
New impact categories covering more environmental issues
Plastics physical effects on biota
Two new indicators quantify the physical impact of plastic resins released into aquatic environments (both freshwater and marine) on biota, expressed in CTUe (midpoint level) or in PDF·m²·yr (damage level). This indicator is based on the work of the MarILCA working group.
Fisheries impact
This indicator quantifies the biodiversity impacts of fisheries activities, measured exclusively at the ecosystem quality damage level (in PDF·m²·yr). It is derived from the work of Stanford-Clark.
IMPACT World+ becomes the first impact assessment method offering an environmental impact category for plastic emissions and for fisheries impact.
Marine & terrestrial ecotoxicity impact categories were added, based on USEtox (v2.02).
Photochemical ozone formation, ecosystem quality was integrated in addition to the already existing Photochemical ozone formation, human health.
Updated indicators
Two versions are introduced for handling biogenic carbon accounting : “carbon neutrality” (default) and “incl.CO2 uptake”. This second version also separates climate change impacts into subcategories, aligning with standards like PEF and GHG Protocol.
Climate change, human health and Climate change, ecosystem quality
These CFs were updated in version 2.1 to align with the AR6 recommendations from IPCC 2021. For the Climate change, human health indicator only, the effect factors were also revised.
Particulate matter formation
These CFs were updated using the latest model by Fantke et al. (detailed in this article and this article), which includes updates to regionalized fate and effect factors.
Water availability, human health
These CFs were updated with the latest model from Debarre (2024), harmonizing methodologies for domestic and agricultural water use, updating exposure factors using recent Gross National Income data, and revising effect factors.
The following indicators were also updated :
- Water availability, terrestrial ecosystems
- Water scarcity
- Fossil and nuclear energy use
- Ozone layer depletion
For more details, visit the Methodology – V2.1 section.