The regionalisation of environmental impact assessment methods for northern regions such as Nunavik

Edgar Sergues' research project presentation

PHD candidate

"I like to try to think outside the box, avoid doing yet another project in an already exploited sector, and bring something new to the table. My environmental concerns were too important and, unfortunately, incompatible with the expectations of the industrial sector. However, I was able to attend interesting and enriching training, which motivated me to specialize in environmental analysis and to eventually provide training myself."

Nunavik, an isolated region

Nunavik is located in northern Quebec above the 55th parallel. Characterized by its extreme climatic conditions, this region faces many environmental challenges. For example, the region's lack of electricity or road connections means that fossil fuels have to be used.

Current environmental life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods were developed for industrialized regions such as Europe, America, etc. They do not account for the specific parameters of northern areas like Nunavik, leading to environmental limitations of LCA.

Edgar began his journey by earning a degree in mechanical engineering and ergonomics from an engineering school in northern France.

He first came to Quebec in 2017 as part of a dual degree program in mechanical engineering at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.

After graduating, Edgar gained various professional experiences, but he found them unsatisfactory due to the lack of focus on environmental issues he observed in the industry. The role he held during his professional experience as an executor did not suit him.

Edgar therefore chose to continue his academic journey by pursuing a doctorate. Previously interested in life cycle assessment, studying at LIRIDE allows him to focus on environmental issues, train others, and continue his education while gaining in-depth expertise in this field.

Adapting LCA methods to the northern context

Edgar is working to overcome this important limitation by adapting environmental impact assessment methods and to ensure they are applicable to northern regions like Nunavik. This project is collaboration between the Institut nordique du Québec and LIRIDE.

To achieve this, Edgar will re-open impact characterization models from LCA and adjust the parameters to fit the specific conditions of Nunavik. This will enable him to provide tailored recommendations, leading to a more accurate model that better reflects the realities of northen regions.

The project aims to create more realistic LCAs for Nunavik, accurately reflecting the specific conditions of the region. This would not only facilitate and expedite field studies but also provide more precise environmental assessments for project implementation.

Additionally, the project seeks to analyze the effect of seasonality on various environmental impacts in Nunavik.

At LIRIDE, Edgar is completing his doctoral thesis in civil engineering. He contributes to scientific research through his analyses and adaptations of environmental impact assessment methods for Arctic regions like Nunavik.

LIRIDE has provided him with confidence, maturity, and a clear goal. He has found inspiring individuals there and has been able to deepen his expertise in life cycle assessment.

Discover Edgar Sergues' articles and publications:

Agence Science-Presse

Régionaliser les impacts environnementaux pour un développement durable du Grand Nord

About LIRIDE

Founded in 2013 under the direction of Professor Ben Amor, the Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory in Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Economy (LIRIDE), attached to the Faculty of Engineering at the Université de Sherbrooke, stands out for its cutting-edge expertise in life cycle assessment, eco-design and circular economy, mainly in the field of materials, energy and construction. LIRIDE's expertise focuses on modeling and assessing the life-cycle impacts of a product or service. LIRIDE is internationally recognized for its scientific research.