SEEA as a framework for assessing policy responses to climate change Prepared for the IAOS conference Sjoerd Schenau and Roel Delahaye Statistics Netherlands

Content Introduction Linking SEEA with DPSIR model; what elements of SEEA apply to which part of the DPSIR model Climate change policy questions that can be addressed in the SEEA; mitigation and adaptation Conclusions

Introduction SEEA – System of Environmental and Economic accounting Climate change in volume III of SEEA Focus on relationships between economic activities and climate change In context of the DPSIR (Driving forces- Pressure-State-Impact-Response) model

Individual statistics High diversity Little coherence Independent development Difficult correlation

Still room for diversity SEEA framework Solid foundation More coherence Single architecture

Introduction SEEA – System of Environmental and Economic accounting Climate change in volume III of SEEA Focus on relationships between economic activities and climate change In context of the DPSIR (Driving forces- Pressure-State-Impact-Response) model

Response … of society to solve the problem Pressure Human activities affecting the environment Driving forces Economic developments Impact Effects of a changed environment State Quality of the environment Increased production, population, energy demand etc. Greenhouse gas emissions Climate variables Impact on agriculture, water supply, sea level etc. DPSIR model

Response … of society to solve the problem Pressure Human activities affecting the environment Driving forces Economic developments Impact Effects of a changed environment State Quality of the environment Mitigation Adaptation Stimulate renewable energy production Energy saving Construction of dikes and sea walls

Climate change policies issues and SEEA 1.To what extent is human induced climate change actually taking place ? Can SEEA be used ?  NO ! 2. What actions need to be taken to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gasses (mitigation) ? Can SEEA be used  Yes ! 3. What actions need to be taken to deal with the consequences of global warming and minimize the impacts (adaptation)? Can SEEA be used  Yes !

Applications and policy uses of SEEA to climate change Based on examples of the Dutch environmental accounts Policy questions regarding mitigation and adaptation Descriptive statistics and modelling

Are the production induced GHG emissions decoupling with respect to economic growth ?

How can the change in GHG emissions over time be explained ?

What are the economic drivers behind the GHG emissions ?

What is the national carbon footprint ?

What is the share of renewable energy in the total energy consumption ?

Taxes on energy and transport: to what extent does the ‘polluter pay principle’ apply ?

How much do mitigating activities contribute to economic growth ? Environmental goods and service industry

What is the potential economic impact of a sea level rise ? Employment

Expenditures on the maintenance of dikes and seawalls How much does a government spend on climate change adaptation measures ?

Conclusions The SEEA, together with the SNA and related satellite accounts, has the potential to bring together in one consistent analytical framework all relevant information with regard to the relationships between the economy and climate change. SEEA as an integrated framework is particularly suitable to asses the policy responses to climate change. It provides all the essential information to monitor, understand and analyse the relation between the economy and climate change essential for developing both mitigation and adaptation strategies.