Environment accounts

Water is essential to achieve sustainable development. At a fundamental level, the availability of clean water in and of itself is necessary for our health and overall well-being. Water is also an important input to many economic activities, from the production of food and energy to the manufacturing of computers and cars. High quality and timely statistics on water are need in order to manage our water assets and track water supply and use. This course will focus on water statistics and accounts, as well as some important water aggregates and indicators (including SDGs).

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.

This course introduces concepts relevant to compiling energy statistics and accounts, including compilation of relevant SDG indicators. The topics covered include physical supply and use tables, asset accounts, valuation and data sources. 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 introduces the SEEA Central Framework, the international statistical standards for measuring the interactions between the environment and the economy. By providing an internationally agreed standard with agreed concepts, definitions and classifications, the SEEA is an invaluable tool for compiling integrated information on the economy and the environment. The SEEA uses concepts, definitions and classifications consistent with the SNA in order to facilitate the integration of environmental and economic statistics.

The course introduces the SEEA EA, the international statistical standard for organizing data about ecosystems, measuring ecosystem services, tracking changes in ecosystem assets, and linking this information to economic and other human activity. The SEEA EA framework takes a spatial approach to organizing information on ecosystems. It supports the compilation of indicators for several global policy frameworks including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related SDG indicators and the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Agenda.

This course introduces concepts relevant to compiling economy wide material flow accounts (EW-MFA); it also covers the methodologies for the SDG indicators 8.4.1/12.2/1 and 8.4.2/12.2.2. EW-MFA represents a framework for describing the interaction of a domestic economy with the natural environment and the economy of the rest of the world in terms of flows of materials, waste and emissions. They are part of the broader System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) which is the international statistical standard for measuring the relationship between the economy and the environment.

This course introduces concepts relevant to compiling solid wastes accounts. The topics covered include physical supply and use tables, data sources, and country examples. Webinars will also be held as part of the course to provide an overview of the topics, allow participants to ask questions and share country experiences in compiling solid waste accounts.

This course introduces concepts relevant to compiling water statistics and accounts, and the compilation of relevant SDG indicators. The topics covered include physical supply and use tables, asset accounts, valuation and data sources. Three 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 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.