Unlocking Land Use Change Insights
Blonk’s web-based LUC Impact Tool now available
In 2014 Blonk developed an Excel-based Direct Land Use Change Assessment Tool to support LCA researchers calculating emissions from Land Use Change (LUC). Over the years this Excel solution evolved, and we are now delighted to introduce a fully web-based LUC calculation solution to you, the LUC Impact Tool. With this new tool we support you to automate your LUC calculations and deepen your knowledge and understanding of Land Use Change.
The LUC Impact Tool also introduces an innovative and exclusive feature: 'Carbon Opportunity Cost'. This unique functionality reveals valuable insights on the missed potential carbon stocks on agricultural land, empowering you complement your LUC analysis.
On 5 October 2023 we will host a free webinar to help you unlock the latest LUC insights and get you acquainted with the opportunities of the new LUC Impact Tool.
LUC Impact Tool in a nutshell
- Web-based with an intuitive interface
It saves you time and automates your LUC calculations, when little primary data is available. - Flexible and comprehensive
It helps you to deepen your knowledge and understanding of LUC, by enabling you to adjust parameters and set up multiple scenarios, compare methodology implications, or connect with inputs beyond statistics such as satellite imagery. - Built in line with the latest available LUC standards and methodologies
The tool has been developed using the latest standards used in LCA and GHG accounting, such as PAS2050 and SBTi FLAG guidance.
Key features of the LUC Impact Tool
Calculate direct LUC emissions
Calculate direct and statistical LUC emissions [1] and discover LUC hotspots in an effortless way.
LUC standards & guidelines
Report LUC emission influenced by different international LUC standards and guidelines, such as PAS2050, draft GHG protocol and SBTi FLAG
Multiple scenarios
Analyze multiple scenarios and adjust parameters, such as different amortization periods and methods, and land management practices.
Complementing insights
Obtain complementing insights on LUC methods, based on statistics and through the new ‘Carbon Opportunity Cost’ functionality.
Innovative and exclusive feature: 'Carbon Opportunity Cost'
One of the new features of the LUC Impact Tool is ‘Carbon Opportunity Cost’ (COC). It gives you insights in the missed potential carbon stocks on agricultural land. Most of the existing LUC methods, which are recommended in LCA standards, focus on recent conversions of land. However, not only just recently converted land, but all land occupation comes at a carbon cost. The COC method helps to determine the carbon stock capacity of land in its natural state and assess the gap between this potential stock and the current carbon stock.
The COC in the LUC Impact Tool is a simplified version of the method proposed by Searchinger (et al., 2018), to account for the difference between the carbon stock (in soil and vegetation) potential natural situation (PNV) [2] , compared to the current use as agricultural land. With these insights we provide another perspective on lost carbon stocks related to land use, and thus complement the LUC emissions from other methods.
Curious about the tool and opportunities it offers to you? On 5 October 2023 we organize a free webinar to address the challenges of calculating the GHG emissions from Land Use Change. It helps you to understand the different methodological choices related to LUC accounting and how you can effectively account for mitigation.
Blonk’s Land Use Change accounting expert Lisanne will host the webinar. She is one of the co-developers of the tool and also facilitates our LUC Accounting Training.
- Date: 5 October – 3.30 pm CET (9.30 EST)
[1] Blonk only calculates the direct effect of LUC. Indirect LUC (iLUC) is not taken into account, which refers to “land use changes elsewhere, resulting from changes in demand to a specific crop from a specific country.” For instance: more carbon emissions due to land use changes induced by the expansion of agricultural lands for biofuels.
[2] Potential natural vegetation is a theoretic representation of the vegetation following human abandonment, simulated under current climate conditions.
More information
Get in touch
Jixin Liu
Please get in touch with Jixin if you would like to learn more about the LUC Impact Tool, its applications and if you are interested in a license.