Report of the SEEA Editor Report by Carl Obst 5th UNCEEA Meeting 23-25 June, 2010 New York

Introduction The new SEEA editor Work to date on SEEA revision Key short term issues Overview of timeframes Proposed consultation process New SEEA editor Carl Obst 15 years in ABS primarily in National Accounts – Head of National Accounts for 4.5 years 3 years at OECD Statistics Department Key areas of work: National accounts including QNA, Sectoral accounts and balance sheets, Input-output, Productivity and capital stock, Regional Accounts, Tourism satellite accounts, Implementation of SNA93 OECD – Assistant editor of MEI, Sustainable development measurement, Manuals on TSA and CPI Started as SEEA Editor 17 May, will be based in Mebourne.

Work to date on SEEA Revision Work of the London Group, Oslo Group and UNCEEA Update from Mark de Haan Work of Peter Comisari, SEEA interim editor Draft outlines, tables, outcome papers Background reading Status and history of SEEA revision Project management Outline, timeframes, process map Editorial Board First meeting held Excellent work of London Group, Oslo Group and UNCEEA in progressing and leading the SEEA Revision. Many issues discussed at length and substantial progress made over the past three years. Thank you for providing a good base from which to start the editors role. Mention also of progress on specific SEEAs – Water, Energy, etc and associated statistical work on IRES (draft submitted to UNCEEA), IRWS, etc. Very broad and collaborative effort. Thanks also to Peter Comisari , interim editor of SEEA for continuing to co-ordinate progress Background reading includes SEEA 2003, issue and outcome papers, London Group reports, UNCEEA minutes Process map drafted and included as a background document. Outlines roles and stages in the SEEA revision process. Comments welcome First EB meeting 14 June – Role, Consultation process, Status of issue and outcome papers, Draft outline Vol I, Timeframes for Vol I. Membership: IvoHavinga, Alessandra Alfieri, Mark de Haan, Torstein Bye, Julie Hass, Joe St Lawrence, Michael Vardon, Paul Schreyer, ManikShresta, Kim Zeischang, Carl Obst Note no drafting completed yet!

Key short term issues Finalising outcome papers Still over 60% to be completed although only three are considered not closed by the London Group Undertaking consultation on each issue and developing recommendations for UNSC Finalising the outline of SEEA Vol I including the detail around the boundary between Vol I & II and their rationales Determining all necessary classifications Ensuring coherence across issues Commencing drafting Significant urgency must be placed on completing planned outcome papers. Targetted completion dates in line with the intended consultation process for each issue will be determined in discussion with relevant authors and lead agencies. As well finalisation of the “not closed” issues must be given priority. Consultation will be a ongoing workload in the coming six months especially through October. Appropriate resources in each country need to be applied. The broad nature of the relationship between Vol I and Vol II has been determined but the precise structure and rationale for each volume and hence the potential gaps and overlaps need to be teased out more fully and at a fine level of detail. In part the choices will depend on the status of particular issues following the completion of global consultation. Completing all of the required classifications will be a large exercise and an important precursor to finalisation of standard tables. While many issues have been resolved by the London Group the consistency of outcomes across the suite of SEEA Vol I has not yet been addressed comprehensively but will be needed to ensure that the Revised SEEA is internally consistent. Drafting will commence soon – first chapter draft due eng August.

Proposed Consultation process Key phases London Group phase (2-4 weeks) Outcome paper and LG consultation and endorsement Editorial Board phase (1-2 weeks) LG comments and covering note Global Consultation phase (4 weeks) UNCEEA phase (2 weeks) Approval of recommendations Outcome: Paper summarising recommendations for UNSC approval February 2011 LG phase from point at which outcome paper complete and posted to website Efforts being made to limit amount of work required and contact needed through July and August.

Global consultation phase Issue or theme based approach Take 20 issues and group into related issues for common posting and commenting 5 groups each with their own timing Inclusive approach – 2 broad methods NSOs invited to coordinate all “within-country” comment both statistical users and producers Editorial Board, on advice from UNCEEA members, to determine key international level stakeholders for each issue/group of issues All NSO key contacts and key international stakeholders informed of progress and forthcoming developments. 5 suggested groups Issues in asset valuation Asset specific issues Environmental taxes, subsidies, permits and resource use mgt Energy and physical flows Classifications and other issues NSO to nominate a key contact who will co-ordinate all country comments. Welcome UNCEEA member input into list of stakeholders All contact managed electronically including use of Towards Revised SEEA website. Choice of software still being made.

Overview of time frames LG & EB consultation – issues: Jun 10 – Nov 10 Global consultation – issues: Sep 10 – Dec 10 UNSC approval of recommendations: Feb 11 First draft – chapters 2-7: Aug 10 – Feb 11 Second draft – chapters 1-7: Feb 11 – May 11 Global consultation – chapters: Apr 11 – Jun 11 Complete Vol I & assoc. material: Sep 11 Global consultation – Vol I : Nov 11 UNSC approval of Volume I &assoc. material: Feb 12 UNSC endorsement Vol II & III: Feb 13 Rough sense of timeframes Many overlapping and parallel phases especially in next 6 months with overlaps between consultation on specific issues and drafting of chapters Further detail needed on Volumes II and III Should be significantly progressed 12 months from now. Associated material : Seek UNSC approval of chapters in Volume I (ch 3-7) this represents the statistical standard, and present draft chapters 1 and 2 as introductory chapters for the manual, and also material for Volume III that is related to matters discussed in Volume I – eg SEEA and climate change and SEEA and Sustainable consumption and production (SCP)

Issues for Discussion Does UNCEEA have any comment on the process map document describing roles and stages in the SEEA revision? Does UNCEEA have any advice or comment on the consultation process? Should the consultation be statistically focused? Is the NSO / International separation to identify stakeholders appropriate? Are there any comments regarding the broad timeframes for completing Volume I? Contact: carl_obst@me.com