International Workshop on SEEA Ecosystem Accounting for Climate Change and Biodiversity

The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) provides the agreed upon statistical framework for measuring the relationship between the environment and the economy. It is comprised of two complimentary international statistical standards: the SEEA Central Framework (SEEA CF) and the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA). The SEEA CF takes a resource-based approach to measuring the supply and use of environmental resources and availability of environmental assets. The SEEA EA takes a holistic and spatially explicit approach to compiling accounts on ecosystems. The SEEA can be flexibly implemented by countries prioritizing accounts based on availability of information and policy priorities. The accounts are designed to respond to data needs for multiple policy initiatives including global initiatives on sustainable development, on mitigating and adapting to climate change and biodiversity. In addition, the Global Set of Climate Change Statistics and Indicators with its Self-Assessment Tool (CISAT) offers an opportunity to  comprehensively assess data availability as well as the needs and gaps, in an effort to priorities key steps to address the data challenges