ABSTRACT
Environmental research has grown immensely and set its mark in the scientific literature. The standard is a key to common databases and softwares, which are needed for a broad use of monetary values of environmental impacts. The life cycle assessment (LCA) standards ISO 14040 and 14044, did just that. They were framework standards that stimulated cooperation between experts. Tens of thousands of people use LCA softwares and databases. ISO 14008 was the first ISO standard in environmental economy. Several new standards in the area is being developed and an entirely new technical committee on “sustainable finance” has been launched. A healthy environment is no doubt a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable development. The three pillars, triple bottom line, and the four capitals are conceptual models for what is needed for a sustainable development. The mainstream development strategy for life cycle impact assessment, is positivistic in character.
