Webinar | From Measurement to Markets: Operationalising Lifecycle Accounting for a Circular Economy and Market-Based Mechanisms
On 24 June 2026, attendees joined an insightful webinar exploring the growing role of lifecycle accounting in enabling the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy. Titled “From Measurement to Markets: Operationalising Lifecycle Accounting for a Circular Economy and Market-Based Mechanisms,” the session examined how lifecycle assessment (LCA) and related accounting methodologies are shaping regulatory frameworks, market instruments, and sustainability strategies across industries.
The webinar highlighted the increasing importance of sustainable fuels, including advanced biofuels and synthetic alternatives, and demonstrated how lifecycle-based approaches provide a more comprehensive understanding of environmental impacts throughout a product or fuel’s value chain. Rather than focusing solely on emissions at the point of use, participants learned how lifecycle accounting captures impacts from raw material extraction and production through to distribution and end use, helping organisations identify opportunities for emissions reduction and resource optimisation.
Key Discussion Topics
During the session, Dr Rebelo explored the principles and practical applications of lifecycle accounting and explained how these methodologies are supporting the development of more integrated approaches to climate governance.
Key themes included:
- The fundamentals of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and its role in measuring environmental impacts across value chains.
- The application of “well-to-wake” methodologies in sectors such as aviation and maritime transport.
- The growing influence of lifecycle metrics in regulatory frameworks and climate-related compliance systems.
- The evolution of market-based mechanisms designed to support decarbonisation efforts.
- The use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) certificates, book-and-claim systems, and insetting models to facilitate emissions reductions beyond an organisation’s direct operations.
- The role of lifecycle data in supporting environmental accountability, circular resource use, and market coordination.
- Challenges relating to data quality, methodological consistency, transparency, and credibility in rapidly developing sustainability markets.
The webinar provided practical examples illustrating how lifecycle accounting has moved beyond being a technical measurement tool to become a critical enabler of climate action, investment decisions, and collaborative decarbonisation initiatives.
Speaker
Dr Pia Rebelo
Dr Pia Rebelo is a Senior Lecturer in Private Law at The City Law School, City St George’s University of London, and an admitted attorney in South Africa. She holds an LLB and LLM from the University of Cape Town and a PhD from The City Law School.
Alongside her academic role, Dr Rebelo works within the decarbonisation team of the international shipping law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP, where she supports clients on regulatory compliance and contractual solutions that facilitate the transition to net zero. Her work spans key regulatory frameworks such as:
- The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)
- FuelEU Maritime
- The EU Renewable Energy Directive
- The IMO Net Zero Framework
- Voluntary carbon markets
Dr Rebelo's research focuses on the intersection of contract law and sustainability, particularly the use of contractual mechanisms to drive decarbonisation within the shipping industry. She has published extensively on topics including green finance, sustainable supply chain finance, green contracts, climate clauses, polar shipping, and climate litigation. She is also an Academic Research Fellow of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.
Webinar Outcomes
Participants gained a practical understanding of how lifecycle thinking is reshaping sustainability governance and enabling more holistic approaches to emissions reduction. The session demonstrated how robust measurement frameworks underpin both regulatory compliance and innovative market solutions, while also highlighting the importance of transparency, credibility, and consistent methodologies in building confidence in emerging environmental markets.
As industries continue to navigate the transition toward net-zero and circular economic models, the webinar provided valuable insights into the tools, frameworks, and market mechanisms that are helping organisations move from measurement to meaningful action.