Valuation as an element of life cycle assessments

The present Federal Environmental Agency manual on the use of valuations in life cycle assessments addresses a burning issue in the environmental debate, namely the priority rankings that should be accorded to various environmental impacts.  Apart from the concerns and rivalries aroused by this issue amongst the members of many disciplines, and the tremendous amount of attention it has attracted amongst the general public, this issue raises fundamental questions about technical, scientific, and political legitimacy.