1 The Joint Sino-Norwegian Project on Green GDP Project leader: Knut H. Alfsen, Statistics Norway Presentation to UNCEEA: Olav Ljones, Statistics Norway

2 Aim and background of project: Aim: To share experiences with the development and use of "green GDP " Background: Started through an initiative from China Financed by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Beijing Three institutions have been involved with the work: –National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBS), –State Environmental Protection Administration of China (SEPA) –Statistics Norway

3 Three project outputs/results A joint report (currently being finalised) A final seminar ( February, 2006) A training workshop ( February, 2006)

4 Outline of the report: International experiences with "green GDP" Developed by National Bureau of Statistics of China (chapter 5), State Environment and Protection Administration (chapter 6) and Statistics Norway Summary Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: A brief clarifications of terms Chapter 3: Norwegian experiences with "green GDP" and "green accounts" Chapter 4: International experiences with "green GDP" and "green accounts” (a review) Chapter 5: Chinese Experiences with Green Accounts Chapter 6: Policy recommendations for China

5 Main conclusions of report The notion of "green GDP" as a single, corrected measure of the value added in an economy, while attractive as a theoretical concept, is too complex and uncertain in practice to be able to guide policy making. This still leaves the question unanswered: How do you construct performance measures at the local, regional and national level that encourage economic development, while at the same time takes due account of natural resource and environmental degradation? –Tentative answers from Norway and some other countries point to sustainable development indicators (SDI) based on the concept of comprehensive national wealth as a possible solution.

6 International Seminar held Feb 2006 UN Environment Programme (UNEP) helped sponsor seminar Presenters and participants from a number of Chinese universities as well as national, regional and municipal environmental and statistical institutions also Canada, Germany, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Norway, and UNEP Sessions: 1. Current work and challenges of green accounting in China 2. Indices and valuation in a Chinese context 3. Policy recommendations to the Chinese government 4. Policy relevance of green accounting 5. Opportunities and challenges of green accounts 6. Special needs of developing countries with regards to establishing environmental accounting

7 Seminar continued Work is being done in both the statistical institutes and in universities which is helping to establish systems for environmental accounting in China. Discussions were held regarding the types of information that is needed for policy makers at the different levels of government. There is a sense of urgency regarding the establishment of information systems which could provide a basis for making decisions that integrate economic and environmental aspects so that economic development does not continue at the expense of the environment.

8 Training Workshop Feb 2006 Attending the training were approximately 60 statisticians from the regional and national statistical offices. SEEA-2003 was the basis for the course outline: Overview of environmental-economic accounting Development of natural resource asset accounts Hybrid or NAMEA-accounts with decoupling indicators Environmental protection expenditure statistics Material flow and related indicators Sustainable development indicators Some reflections about the statistical requirements for adjusting national accounts aggregates

9 Training workshop continued National examples were used to illustrate how different portions of the SEEA systems have been implemented in different countries including examples of how the different SEEA modules have been be adapted to specific national needs and contexts. Julie L. Hass, Statistics Norway, led the workshop with sessions being held by Walter Radermacher, Statistics Germany, Robert Smith, Statistics Canada, and Knut Alfsen, Statistics Norway