Environment

Sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and increased resource efficiency are priorities for many countries. These linked priorities are also reflected in the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which call for sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. Data on economy-wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA) are necessary to inform policies not only for the management of natural resources and waste, but also policies related to circular economy, resource use and ecosystems.

The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP), with the support of the Office of the Director-General for Policy Planning on Statistical Policy, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of the Government of Japan are organizing a Regional Training Workshop on SEEA Asset Accounts for Sustainable Development. The workshop will be held in Chiba, Japan from 16-19 June. The workshop will be conducted in English. 

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. Its impacts on well-being are far reaching, including impacts on health and the economy. Humans have contributed to climate change largely through economic activities which are intrinsically linked to climate change. Our supply and use of energy for example has led to increased emissions of greenhouse gases which have resulted in global warming. A better understanding of the relationship between the economy and climate change through the compilation of relevant indicators is key to mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues in the Pacific region. Many countries are already experiencing intensifying threats such as rising sea levels, increasing ocean acidification, and escalating extreme weather events, profoundly impacting the region's economy, society, and environment. There is a need to address the well-being of people through good evidence-based policy. Reliable statistics and indicators on the impact of climate change are vital to enable evidence-based policy, decision-making, planning and investment.

In the Pacific region, climate change is one of the most pressing policy issues given its wideranging impacts on well-being. At the Fifty-first Pacific Islands Forum in 2022, Pacific Island leaders emphasized climate change as an existential threat to the wellbeing, livelihoods, and security of the Pacific, resonating with the Boe Declaration (2018) and the Kainaki II Declaration (2019). Consequently, they declared a climate emergency.

This course will focus on climate change indicators that can be compiled from environmental economic accounts. After a brief overview of climate change and, relevant polices and multilateral agreements, participants will learn how to compile various indicators that inform climate change. The focus of the course is on better understanding the relationship between climate change and economic activity. And the statistical framework that provides the concepts, definitions, and methodology for measuring this relationship is the System of Environmental Economic Accounting.

Environment is one of the three pillars of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Compiling the environment related indicators is key to informing policies and measuring progress towards achieving the SDGs. This course focuses on the 25 SDG indicators that are under the custodianship of UNEP. In the 10 modules of the course, participants will learn about the importance of monitoring the environmental dimension of development, the linkages of indicators with existing statistical frameworks, and how to use environment statistics in decision making.

This course introduces concepts relevant to compiling indicators that inform climate change. The topics covered include among others: climate change policies and indicators; energy and air emission accounts; and data sources. Weekly webinars will also be held as part of the course to provide an overview of the topics and allow participants to ask questions.

This course will focus on climate change indicators that can be compiled from environmental economic accounts. After a brief overview of climate change and, relevant polices and multilateral agreements, participants will learn how to compile various indicators that inform climate change. The focus of the course is on better understanding the relationship between climate change and economic activity. And the statistical framework that provides the concepts, definitions, and methodology for measuring this relationship is the System of Environmental Economic Accounting.

This course will focus on energy statistics and accounts, as well as some important energy aggregates and indicators (including SDGs). The energy accounts are based on the System for Environmental-Economic Accounting-Energy (SEEA-Energy) which is a multi-purpose conceptual framework for organizing energy-related statistics. It supports analysis of the role of energy within the economy, the state of energy inputs and various energy-related transactions of environmental interest.