Statistical Research Institute Reflections on the International Seminar on Green Economy and Official Statistics Lee, Jae-won Statistical Research Institute Statistics Korea 2011. 9. 28

Contents Seminar Overview Issues Discussed Challenges Ahead

1. Seminar Overview

1-1. Seminar Overview Title: International Seminar on Green Economy and Official Statistics Organizers: KOSTAT, UNSD Date: July 6-8, 2011 Venue: Seoul, Korea (Jamshil Lotte Hotel)

1-2. Participants High level statistical professionals, policy makers, and experts on green economy From advanced, developing countries and major international organizations 100 attendees from 22 countries and international organizations (UNSD, EUROSTAT, OECD, etc)

Session 1: Korea’s Green Growth Initiative and 1-3. Topics Session 1: Korea’s Green Growth Initiative and Official Statistics Session 2: Green Economy and Official Statistics Session 3: Economic Instruments to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Statistical Issues Arising

Session 4: Identifying Green Jobs/Adapting 1-3. Topics Session 4: Identifying Green Jobs/Adapting Statistical Classifications Session 5: Statistics on Energy Efficiencies and Renewable, Production Efficiencies and Consumption Efficiencies Session 6: The Statistical Issues from the Developing Countries’ Perspectives

1-4. Motivation for Organizing Seminar To discuss the role of official statistical agencies and international statistical standards for green economy The paradigm shift in national development strategies to green economy Lack of national statistics on establishing and monitoring green economy policies Organized based on the agreement between Statistics Korea and UNSD to annually organize international seminar on global issues First seminar : ｢International Seminar on ICT Statistics｣, July 19-21, 2010 in Seoul This seminar was the second joint seminar between Statistics Korea and UNSD 8/20

2. Issues Discussed

2-1. Economic Polices and Official Statistics Economic policies towards environmentally friendly direction “Green goods and services” are emerging as new economic engine Green economic statistics development efforts throughout the world: OECD (green growth indicators), India (environmental resource accounts) Green is a dynamic concept : the stage of maturity for each society needs to be considered to quantify green economy Brown Economy Green Economy Energy-intensive Society Energy-efficient Low carbon society Brown Statistics Green Statistics

2-2. Core Indicators for International Comparison Need core indicators to ensure international comparability in green economy/growth indicators Also need a set of core indicators between various programs on green economy led by international organizations Set of Core Indicators Programs on green economy Green Economy Initiative (UNEP) EU 20-20-20 Actions on Climate Change UN Summit on Sustainable Development Green Growth Initiative (OECD)

2-3. Importance of Utilizing SEEA System of Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounts (SEEA) as a framework for consistent measurement of green economy SEEA Volume1 will be included in the agenda for UN Statistics Commission in 2012 Need accompanying guidance on how countries may apply SEEA in accordance with their particular priorities Significant portion of statistics used in Netherlands’ green growth indicators are based on SEEA

2-4. EGSS as Framework for Measuring Green Economy The environmental goods and services sector (EGSS) : a critical role as a framework for measuring green economy EGSS can be used in harmony with CEPA2000 and SEEA * CEPA : Classification of Environmental Protection Activities Statistics on EGSS can be compared with those of all other industries

2-5. Green Classification Official statisticians should be prudent in labeling particular phenomena as “green” or not The perspectives for “green jobs” the perspective of people employed in defined industries the perspective of people working in a defined set of occupations For international comparability, classifications should be applicable to countries with diverse environments

2-6. Korea’s Experience for Green Growth Statistics ‘Low carbon green growth’ as one of Korea’s national vision for growth Develop green growth indicators, green industry statistics, green life indicators to statistically support the national strategy for green growth To monitor the progress of green growth, seminar took place at a mid-point (2011) of the nation’s five-year plan for green growth Under study to adopt SEEA frameworks to enhance international comparability based on recommendations of the seminar

3. Challenges Ahead

Review green growth policies of each country Challenges Ahead Re-establishing the role of official statistical organizations in regards to green growth statistics Compiling “SEEA” as framework for measuring green economy SEEA and EGSS : a critical role in compiling consistent and internationally comparable statistics for green economy Preparation works by statistical agencies of each country to compile SEEA and EGSS Review green growth policies of each country Develop basic conceptual framework and classifications of green growth statistics

Challenges Ahead Improving statistics on energy efficiency Improved statistics on energy are required in the fields of efficient energy use and renewable energy As most of greenhouse gas emissions occur during the process of producing energy Compiling green economy statistics tailored for each country’s circumstances Sharing experiences of each country would be useful in compiling statistics tailored to each country’s circumstances Statistics on consumption and household dimensions are essential to green economy issues

Challenges Ahead Importance of sharing outcomes of the seminar Report key conclusions from the seminar to the 43rd Session of the UN Statistical Commission in 2012 Upcoming project and meeting UNSD: Project on Developing Green Economy Indicators UNSD project (2012-2015) to support development of green economy indicators for its member countries

Challenges Ahead UNEP : Workshop on Statistics for Environmental Goods and Services UNEP Workshop on the EGSS for measuring green economy on November 14-15, 2011 in Geneva