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Joint Research Center (JRC)
CONSUMPTION FOOTPRINT

Environmental impacts of the consumption of EU and EU countries

AgricultureClimateEnvironmentEnergysustainabilityLCALife Cycle AssessmentEnvironmental Impactconsumption

Quality & Transparency

Quality

Model uncertainties

Models are by definition affected by uncertainties (in input data, input parameters, scenario definitions, etc.). Have the model uncertainties been quantified? Are uncertainties accounted for in your simulations?

no
The Consumption Footprint has many layers of input parameters that could lead to uncertainty of the overall result: - Consumption intensity data from official statistics - Modelling of the environmental impact of the life cycle of individual products - Impact assessment models of the Environmental Footprint method So far, uncertainties have not been quantified. However, ranges could be tested. Regarding the Environmental Footprint impact assessment method (EF 3.1) recommendations (Andreasi Bassi et al., 2023), model robustness for each of the 16 indicator has been evaluated (EC, 2021).

    Sensitivity analysis

    Sensitivity analysis helps identifying the uncertain inputs mostly responsible for the uncertainty in the model responses. Has the model undergone sensitivity analysis?

    yes
    The Consumption Footprint can deal with sensitivity analysis for many parameters, including consumption intensity data and environmental impact data. No formal sensitivity analysis has been performed to check all parameters as this would be very time demanding. However, the model has been used to test more than 50 green transition scenarios which provide information on the sensitivity of the model to certain parameters.

      Have model results been published in peer-reviewed articles?

      yes

        Has the model formally undergone scientific review by a panel of international experts?

        Please note that this does not refer to the cases when model results were validated by stakeholders.

        no

          Model validation

          Has model validation been done? Have model predictions been confronted with observed data (ex-post)?

          yes
          Validation has been performed with other models, but observed data are not available.

            Transparency

            To what extent do input data come from publicly available sources?

            This may include sources accessible upon subscription and/or payment

            Based on both publicly available and restricted-access sources

            Is the full model database as such available to external users?

            Whether or not it implies a specific procedure or a fee

            no

              Have model results been presented in publicly available reports?

              Note this excludes IA reports.

              yes

              Have output datasets been made publicly available?

              Note this could also imply a specific procedure or a fee.

              yes

                Is there any user friendly interface presenting model results that is accessible to the public?

                For instance: Dashboard, interactive interfaces...

                yes

                Has the model been documented in a publicly available dedicated report or a manual?

                Note this excludes IA reports.

                yes

                Is there a dedicated public website where information about the model is provided?

                yes

                Is the model code open-source?

                no

                Can the code be accessed upon request?

                no