ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)

Environmental Engineering (EE); Simplified Method for including Uncertainty and Sensitivity Aspects in Calculations of the Avoided Environmental Impact of Information and Communication Technology Solutions

DTS/EE-EEPS76

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Technical Committee: EE EEPS - EE Eco Environmental Product Standards
• Current Stage: 12 - Citation in the OJ (auto-insert)
• Due Date: 02-Oct-2025
• Completion Date: 12-Sep-2025

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Environmental Engineering (EE);
Simplified Method for including Uncertainty and
Sensitivity Aspects in Calculations
of the Avoided Environmental Impact of Information and
Communication Technology Solutions

2 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)

Reference
DTS/EE-EEPS76
Keywords
LCA
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ETSI
3 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 4
Foreword . 4
Modal verbs terminology . 4
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 References . 6
2.1 Normative references . 6
2.2 Informative references . 6
3 Definition of terms, symbols and abbreviations . 7
3.1 Terms . 7
3.2 Symbols . 8
3.3 Abbreviations . 9
4 Methodology . 9
4.1 Framework . 9
4.2 Sensitivity of individual element . 10
4.3 Estimation of contribution to total uncertainty . 13
4.4 Estimation of relative rebound effect . 13
Annex A (informative): Examples using the uncertainty and sensitivity methodology . 14
A.0 Introduction . 14
A.1 Business meeting . 14
A.2 Health consultation . 17
A.3 Telemedicine . 19
A.4 Solar electricity . 21
Annex B (informative): Method for knowing if enough data have been collected to meet cut-
off threshold . 24
B.0 Introduction . 24
B.1 Method description . 24
B.1.0 Detailed description of the method . 24
B.1.1 Example application of the method . 25
B.1.1.0 Avoided emissions of health consultation . 25
B.1.1.1 Cut-off method applied to clause A.2 . 25
B.1.1.2 Cut-off method applied to FOE of clause A.2 . 26
B.1.1.3 Cut-off method applied to Rb for clause A.2 . 27
Annex C (informative): Examples of software programs for implementation . 28
Annex D (informative): Example of code for implementation of clause 4.2 in the present
document . 29
Annex E (informative): Change history . 30
History . 31

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4 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
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Foreword
This Technical Specification (TS) has been produced by ETSI Technical Committee Environmental Engineering (EE).
Modal verbs terminology
In the present document "shall", "shall not", "should", "should not", "may", "need not", "will", "will not", "can" and
"cannot" are to be interpreted as described in clause 3.2 of the ETSI Drafting Rules (Verbal forms for the expression of
provisions).
"must" and "must not" are NOT allowed in ETSI deliverables except when used in direct citation.
Introduction
Investigating the net Environmental Impact (EI) of technologies has become more common. Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) is the preferred quantification methodology however the uncertainty quantification is often not
included. This is problematic as the uncertainty determines if conclusions can be drawn. Recently several assessment
methods for avoided environmental impact have been proposed [i.1], [i.2], [i.3] and [i.4]. These methods have some
commonalities one being the lack of uncertainty and sensitivity quantification methodology [i.5], which might prevent
conclusions to be drawn. Attempts to solve these problems have been carried out [i.6].
It is generally accepted that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a kind of double-edged sword in this
context: more impact for its production, use and disposal, however much less impact when used to address
sustainability matters [i.2]. The Rebound Effect (RE) with its uncertainty are not covered by any standard so far.
Simply put the RE is the difference between potential avoided impact and actual avoided impact [i.7]. The relative RE
is equal to (potential benefit - actual benefit)/potential benefit [i.7].
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5 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
The total RE can roughly be divided into the direct RE and the economy-wide RE. The problems addressed are that
uncertainty calculations are not systematic in LCA of ICT Services especially including the RE.
The standardization gap is that so far, the uncertainty for avoided EI estimations for ICT has not been included clearly,
especially for the intriguing RE. The objective of the present document is to use some existing methods, [i.2] and [i.6],
and propose a method which helps assess in a simplified manner the probability that there will be avoided EI resulting
from the introduction of ICT Solutions. For the first time, a standard is defined which includes uncertainty and
sensitivity calculations to make visible the relation between the degree of simplification and the ability to draw
conclusions. The method herein is applicable to net EI LCAs including ICT Services and beyond such as product LCAs.

ETSI
6 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
1 Scope
The present document concerns a methodology for including uncertainty and sensitivity aspects for avoided
environmental impact calculations. The objective of the present document is to provide a standardized method to assess
in a simplified manner the uncertainty of calculations for avoided environmental impact resulting from the introduction
of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Solutions. Moreover, the sensitivity of individual elements and
the contribution to the total uncertainty is outlined. A method is defined based on existing standards, e.g.
Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8] and recognized methods which allow for communication of the results to the
public and consumers. The uncertainty and sensitivity calculation procedures are standardized for the method to be
developed to make visible the relation between the degree of simplification and the ability to draw conclusions.
2 References
2.1 Normative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
Referenced documents which are not found to be publicly available in the expected location might be found in the
ETSI docbox.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long-term validity.
The following referenced documents are necessary for the application of the present document.
Not applicable.
2.2 Informative references
References are either specific (identified by date of publication and/or edition number or version number) or
non-specific. For specific references, only the cited version applies. For non-specific references, the latest version of the
referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
NOTE: While any hyperlinks included in this clause were valid at the time of publication, ETSI cannot guarantee
their long-term validity.
The following referenced documents may be useful in implementing an ETSI deliverable or add to the reader's
understanding, but are not required for conformance to the present document.
[i.1] L. Lakanen: "Developing handprints to enhance the environmental performance of other actors",
2023.
[i.2] A.S.G. Andrae: "Method for Calculating the Avoided Impact of Specific Information and
Communication Technology Services", International Journal of Environmental Engineering and
Development, vol. 2, pp. 73-87, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37394/232033.2024.2.7.
[i.3] AIOTI: "IoT and Edge Computing Carbon Footprint Measurement Methodology", 2024.
[i.4] WBCSD: "Guidance on Avoided Emissions - Helping Business Drive Innovations and Scale
Solutions Toward Net Zero", 2023.
[i.5] J.C. Bieser, R. Hintemann, L.M. Hilty, S. Beucker: "A review of assessments of the greenhouse
gas footprint and abatement potential of information and communication technology",
Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 2023, vol. 99, p. 107033. DOI:
10.1016/j.eiar.2022.107033.
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7 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
[i.6] A.S.G. Andrae: "Method for Uncertainty and Probability Estimation of Avoided Impacts from
Information and Communication Technology Solutions", International Journal of Recent
Engineering Science, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 103-108, 2024. DOI: 10.14445/23497157/IJRES-
V11I5P110.
[i.7] D. Font Vivanco, J. Freire‐González, R. Galvin, T. Santarius, H.J. Walnum, T. Makov and S. Sala:
"Rebound effect and sustainability science: A review", Journal of Industrial Ecology, vol. 26,
no. 4, pp. 1543-1563, 2022. DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13295.
[i.8] Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 (2022): "Enabling the Net Zero transition: Assessing how the use
of information and communication technology solutions impact greenhouse gas emissions of other
sectors".
[i.9] W. Lu: "Study On The Advanced Technique of Environmental Assessment Based on Life Cycle
Assessment Using Matrix Method", Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, 2006.
[i.10] A. Seidel, N. May, E. Guenther, F. Ellinger: "Scenario-based analysis of the carbon mitigation
potential of 6G-enabled 3D videoconferencing in 2030", Telematics and Informatics, vol. 64,
p. 101686, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2021.101686.
[i.11] C.L. Thiel, N. Mehta, C.S. Sejo, L. Qureshi, M. Moyer, V. Valentino, J. Saleh: "Telemedicine and
the environment: life cycle environmental emissions from in-person and virtual clinic visits", NPJ
Digital Medicine, vol. 6, no. 1, 87, 2023. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00818-7.
[i.12] F. Bélorgey, J. Fournier, N.L. Omnes: "Application of International Telecommunication Union
Recommendation L. 1480 on measuring the greenhouse gas emission effects to a use case for
photovoltaic power generation equipment", Environmental Research: Energy, vol. 2, no. 1,
015004, 2025. DOI: 10.1088/2753-3751/ad9f64.
[i.13] C. Mutel: "Brightway: An open source framework for Life Cycle Assessment", Journal of Open
Source Software, vol. 2, no. 12, p. 236, 2017. DOI: 10.21105/joss.00236.
[i.14] B. Steubing, D. de Koning, A. Haas, C.L. Mutel: "The Activity Browser — An open source LCA
software building on top of the brightway framework", Software Impacts, vol. 3, p. 100012, 2020.
DOI: 10.1016/j.simpa.2019.100012.
[i.15] A.S.G. Andrae: "Proxy-Based Economic Factors for ICT Emission Avoidance in Cut-Off
Frameworks", ResearchGate, 2025. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22177.31841.
3 Definition of terms, symbols and abbreviations
3.1 Terms
For the purposes of the present document, the following terms apply:
accuracy: closeness to the value of the perfect reference system
NOTE: If the perfect reference system would have a score of 100 EI units and the score of the calculated system
at hand would be 90 EI units, the accuracy of the LCA would be 90 %.
avoided emission: emission reductions resulting from the use of a solution but occurring outside that solution's
lifecycle or value chain
NOTE: As defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
direct rebound effect: rebound effect where increased efficiency, associated cost reduction and/or convenience of a
product or service results in its increased use because it is cheaper or otherwise more convenient
NOTE: As defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
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8 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
economy-wide rebound effect: rebound effect where more efficiency drives economic productivity overall resulting in
more economic growth and consumption at a macroeconomic level
NOTE: As defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
element: flow inputs or outputs to unit processes within the studied product system at hand
EXAMPLE: Example of elements are CO2e emissions from "Car embodied" (output) and amount of "Use of
cars" (input) used by "Use of vehicles" in Table A.1. a and b are elements.
first order effect: direct environmental effect associated with the physical existence of an ICT solution, i.e. the raw
materials acquisition, production, use and end-of-life treatment stages, and generic processes supporting those including
the use of energy and transportation
NOTE: As defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
higher order effect: indirect effect (including but not limited to rebound effects) other than first and second order
effects occurring through changes in consumption patterns, lifestyles and value systems
NOTE: As defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
net second order effect: resulting second order effect after accounting for emissions due to the first order effects of an
ICT solution
NOTE: As defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
parameter: unit process within the studied product system at hand
EXAMPLE: Examples of parameters are "Car embodied" (output) and "Use of cars" (input) used by "Use of
vehicles" in Table A.1.
rebound effect: increases in consumption due to environmental efficiency interventions that can occur through a price
reduction or other mechanism including behavioural responses
NOTE: As defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
EXAMPLE: An efficient product being cheaper or in other ways more convenient and hence being consumed to
a greater extent.
second order effect: indirect impact created by the use and application of ICTs which includes changes of
environmental load due to the use of ICTs that could be positive or negative
NOTE: As defined in Recommendation ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
3.2 Symbols
For the purposes of the present document, the following symbols apply:
Av Avoided environmental impacts
SOE Second Order Effect
FOE First Order Effect, ICT Scenario environmental impacts
Rb Absolute environmental impacts for total rebound effect
A Technology matrix
p Process vector
α Final demand vector
β Final environmental load vector
k Environmental load in β
i Column in A or B
j Row in A or B
a Element in A
b Element in B
B Environmental load matrix
� Total CO e (LCA) result
�����
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9 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
� Summated CO e scores based on Process-sum CO e (LCA) data which are specific and granular
2 2
�������
for the system at hand
� Summated CO e score based on EEIO CO e (LCA) proxy data which cover the remaining
2 2
����
processes
� Cut-off threshold
RRb Relative total rebound effect
3.3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations apply:
2D Two Dimensional
3D Three Dimensional
5G Fifth-generation for wireless technology
6G Sixth-generation for wireless technology
AI Artificial Intelligence
CO e Carbon Dioxide equivalents
CUVP Contribution of individual element to total uncertainty
EEIO Environmentally Extended Input-Output
EI Environmental Impact
IVP Input value of individual element
LCA Life Cycle Assessment
PC Personal Computer
PV PhotoVoltaic
RE Rebound Effect
SVP Sensitivity of individual element
TU Total Uncertainty of whole calculation result
UVP Uncertainty of individual element
4 Methodology
4.1 Framework
Equation 1 based on Equation 1 in [i.6] shows the main factors for the proposed method which shall be applied to any
ICT Solution.
� �
�� =��� − ��� +�� (1)
where:
�� = All avoided Environmental Impacts (EI) or avoided emissions from the use of the ICT Solution at hand per
functional unit. This is the net second order effect of the ICT solution.
��� = EI changes in the studied product system per functional unit for the Baseline Scenario created by the ICT
Solution. This is the second order effect.
��� = All ICT related EI from the studied product system per functional unit for the use of the ICT Solution Scenario.
This is the first order effect.
�� = Absolute EI for direct and economy-wide rebound effects from studied product system per functional unit for the
ICT Solution Scenario.
Equation 1 is in principle applicable to any standard for avoided impact calculations such as Recommendation
ITU-T L.1480 [i.8].
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10 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
4.2 Sensitivity of individual element
Equations 2 to 5 based on page 90 in [i.9], and Equation 6 based on pages 63 and 64 in [i.9], show how the rate
sensitivity for activity and environmental load inventory flows shall be calculated.
� � =� (2)
��
� =� � (3)
� = � � (4)
��
� = � � � (5)
∆� ∆�
� �
� � � �
� �
� �
��� = , (6)
��
∆� ∆�
�� ��
� � � �
� �
�� ��
where:
� = Technology matrix. Activity flows arranged in a square matrix.
� = Environmental load matrix.
� = Process vector.
� = Final demand vector.
� = Final environmental load vector.
� = kth environmental load in the final environmental load vector.
�
∆� = Variation of the kth environmental load in the final environmental load vector due to a very small (tiny,
�
� .
miniscule) variation in
��
� = Value of the element in the ith column in the jth row of A.
��
∆� = Very small (tiny, miniscule) variation of the value of element in the ith column in the jth row of A.
��
� = Value of the element in the ith column in the jth row of B.
��
∆� = Very small (tiny, miniscule) variation of the value of element in the ith column in the jth row of B.
��
SVP = sensitivity of individual element.
ij
NOTE 1: SVP can be calculated manually or by specialized software programs such as those mentioned in
ij
Annex C (informative).
To explain the factors of Equations 2 to 5 a fictive example (Table 1) is used: the production of one piece of a generic
Product G.
α (the final demand vector) in Table 1 is the amount of Product G necessary to fulfil the functional unit.
The production of one piece of Product G may require 5 kWh of "Electricity 1" emitting 0,02 kg CO e/kWh, 2 kWh of
"Electricity 2" emitting 0,3 kg CO e/kWh and 3 kWh of "Electricity 3" emitting 0,5 kg CO e/kWh. Additionally
2 2
Product G may need 10 kg Aluminium emitting 12 kg CO e/kg and 0,05 kg IC emitting 1 300 kg CO e/kg.
2 2
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11 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
Table 1: Production of one piece of a generic Product G - a fictive example
Electricity production 1 Unit Amount
Output Electricity 1 kWh 1
Output COe kg 0,02
Electricity production 2
Output Electricity 2 kWh 1
Output CO2e kg 0,3
Electricity production 3
Output Electricity 3 kWh 1
Output CO2e kg 0,5
Aluminium production
Output Aluminium kg 1
Output COe kg 12
IC production
Output IC kg 1
Output CO2e kg 1 300
Product G production
Output Product G pieces 1
Input Electricity 1 kWh 5
Input Electricity 2 kWh 2
Input Electricity 3 kWh 3
Input Aluminium kg 10
Input IC kg 0,05
Boundary
α Product G piece 1
For the Product G example, a square A (in blue) is shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Example of a square technology matrix A
Electricity Electricity Electricity Aluminium IC Product G
A
production 1 production 2 production 3 production production production
1 kWh -20 kWh
Electricity 1 0 0 0 0
(output) (input)
1 kWh -5 kWh
Electricity 2 0 0 0 0
(output) (input)
-3 kWh
Electricity 3 0 0 1 kWh (output) 0
(input)
Aluminium    1 kg (output)  -10 kg (input)
1 kg -0,05 kg
IC
(output) (input)
1 piece
Product G 0 0 0 0 0 α = 1
(output)
NOTE 2: The inputs to processes have to be designated with a minus (-) sign in the present methodology as
otherwise the final environmental loadings would be expressed in negative numbers. This can be
conveniently shown with numerical computation programs as shown in Annex D.
For the Product G example, B is shown in Table 3.
Table 3: Example of an environmental load matrix B
Electricity Electricity Electricity Aluminium IC Product G

B
production 1 production 2 production 3 production production production
1 300 kg
CO e 0,02 kg (output) 0,3 kg (output) 0,5 kg (output) 12 kg (output) 0 (output)
(output)
NOTE 3: Occasionally B can be simplified to consider e.g. CO e for each process as a whole instead of CO , CH ,
2 2 4
N O, etc. or weighted EI values. This principle is applied in Annex A (informative) in the present
document. Annex B (informative) on cut-off procedures for SOE and FOE (larger product systems) also
uses CO e for each process.
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12 ETSI TS 104 134 V1.1.1 (2025-09)
-1
For the Product G example, A (in yellow) and p are shown in Table 4.
-1
Table 4: Example of an inverse technology matrix A and a process vector p
Electricity Electricity Electricity Aluminium IC Product G
-1
p = A × α
production 1 production 2 production 3 production production production
1 0 0 0 0 5 5
0 1 0 0 0 2 2
0 0 1 0 0 3 3
0 0 0 1 0 10 10
0 0 0 0 1 0,05 0,05
0 0 0 0 0 1 1
NOTE 4: Each item in the p vector is the scaling factor corresponding to one unit process.
For the Product G example, α is shown in Table 5.
Table 5: Example of a final demand vector (α)
Electricity Electricity Electricity Aluminium IC Product G
α
production 1 production 2 production 3 production production production

Electricity 1    0
Electricity 2    0
Electricity 3    0
Aluminium    0
IC    0
Product G    1
NOTE 5: This α vector expresses the boundary condition for the economic flows at the system boundary.
For the Product G example, β is shown in Table 6.
Table 6: Example of a final environmental load vector β
Electricity Electricity Electricity Aluminium IC Product G Total
production 1 production 2 production 3 production production production Sum

β = B × 0,02 × 5 × 1 = 0,3 × 2 × 1 = 0,5 × 3 × 1 = 12 × 10 × 1 1 30
...