How Can LCA Inform ASI Strategies for Sustainable Mobility Transitions?

Integrated approaches are vital for guiding sustainable mobility transitions, yet there is limited understanding of how life cycle assessment (LCA) can operationalize Avoid-Shift-Improve (ASI) strategies. This study explores the connections between LCA and ASI, demonstrating that LCA provides a rigorous, system-level method for evaluating the environmental performance of transport interventions across their life cycle. Findings show that LCA can effectively support “Avoid” strategies, such as compact urban development, by comparing transport emissions before and after intervention and revealing reductions driven by minimized travel demand and infrastructure needs. For “Shift” strategies, LCA enables comparative analysis across modes, private vehicles – public transit, and nonmotorized options – highlighting life cycle environmental benefits from more sustainable travel. In the “Improve” domain, LCA supports technology-neutral assessments of emerging transport technologies, such as electric and hydrogen vehicles, capturing trade-offs in material criticality, energy sources, and infrastructure impacts. This is especially relevant for Saudi Arabia, where the benefits of alternative vehicles depend heavily on the national power mix, fuel systems, and infrastructure readiness. Integrating LCA into ASI planning allows policymakers to prioritize interventions through robust, forward-looking, and technology-neutral assessments that support targeted actions aligned with the Kingdom’s climate goals.