1. System of Environmental- Economic Accounting Working Party on National Accounts (Paris, 25-28 October 2011) Herman Smith United Nations Statistics Division

2. Short history of the SEEA SEEA-1993 Published as a work in progress report Focused mostly on environmentally-adjusted aggregates and integration of the environment in monetary accounts Chapter 8 of agenda 21 recommended its implementation in countries Resistance of NSOs to develop environmentally-adjusted aggregates SEEA 2003 Issued as a best practices document In a number of cases, not a single option is presented Major step forward in linking physical and monetary SEEA 2012 Need to develop a standard for environmental-economic accounting Based on the SEEA 2003 and country experience High policy demand – Green Economy/green growth, Rio +20

3. Development of the revised SEEA Being developed under the auspices of the United Nations Committee on Environmental-Economic Accounting established by the UN Statistical Commission London Group on Environmental Accounting has contributed substantively (e.g. discussion and solving issues, etc.) The idea is the SEEA is comprised of three parts: Part 1 on the Central Framework, Part 2 on Experimental Ecosystem Accounts and Part 3 on Extensions and Applications Issue list for the SEEA was discussed by the London Group

4. Development of the revised SEEA Outcome papers reflecting the decision of the London Group were drafted and circulated for global consultation (until end of 2010) Recommendations on the issues were adopted by the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC) in February 2011 Draft Chapters 1-6 constituting the central framework will be out for global consultation this week Chapters 1-6 will be submitted for adoption by the UNSC in March 2012 Experimental Ecosystem Accounts and Extensions and Applications will present the state of the art and will not be statistical standards.

5. List of issues - 21 Issue 1. Harmonization of MFA with SEEA concepts Issue 2. Definition and classifications of physical flows Issue 3. Linking energy flow accounts, balances and basic energy statistics and emission inventories and accounts Issue 4. Renewable energy Issue 5. Environment industry Issue 6 -7-8. Environmental taxes and subsidies and permits Issue 9. Classification of natural resource management expenditures Issue 10-11. Classification of assets and categorization of mineral and energy resources Issue 12. Valuation of assets Issue 13-14. Recording of natural resource depletion for a non-renewable and renewable resource Issue 15. Decommissioning costs Issue 16. Recording of water in artificial reservoirs Issue 17. Recording of losses Issue 18. Valuation of water (deleted) Issue 19. Land Issue 20. Recording of soil and its valuation Issue 21. Forest accounts

6. The SEEA and supporting suite of publications Data Data Quality Assessment Frameworks Metadata and documentation (e.g. SDMX) ISIC, CPC, Asset Classification, Class. of Environmental Activities, Class. of Physical Flows etc Input frameworks Cross functional frameworks SEEA e.g. IRWS Other water statistics Compilation Material SEEA-Water Energy balances e.g. IRES Compilation Material SEEA-Energy Output frameworks Systems frameworks Intermediate frameworks

7. SEEA and SNA The SEEA maintains close linkages to the accounting structure and concepts of the SNAThe SEEA maintains close linkages to the accounting structure and concepts of the SNAbut…… It has graduated to a system in its own rightIt has graduated to a system in its own right Central framework is very close to the SNA (satellite system of the SNA)Central framework is very close to the SNA (satellite system of the SNA) Ecosystem accounts look at the environment from a different perspective in its capacity to provide services to the economyEcosystem accounts look at the environment from a different perspective in its capacity to provide services to the economy

8. SEEA implementation Energy information is high on international agendaEnergy information is high on international agenda Rio+20Rio+20 Green Economy/Green GrowthGreen Economy/Green Growth Sustainable Consumption and ProductionSustainable Consumption and Production Resources efficiency/productivityResources efficiency/productivity Climate ChangeClimate Change Beyond GDP measuresBeyond GDP measures On the international statistical agendaOn the international statistical agenda Busan Action Plan for Statistics being discussedBusan Action Plan for Statistics being discussed Multi-regional Input-Output ModelsMulti-regional Input-Output Models Sustainable Development Goals (post MDG agenda)Sustainable Development Goals (post MDG agenda)

9. SEEA and implementation UNSC requested the UNCEEA to discuss implementation of the SEEAUNSC requested the UNCEEA to discuss implementation of the SEEA UNCEEA discussed a paper on the implementation in June prepared by Statistics NetherlandsUNCEEA discussed a paper on the implementation in June prepared by Statistics Netherlands Suggestion to develop a minimum set of accounts for environmental accountingSuggestion to develop a minimum set of accounts for environmental accounting London Group to be engaged in supporting the implementation through vetting training and compilation materials, etc.London Group to be engaged in supporting the implementation through vetting training and compilation materials, etc.

10. What’s next? SEEA Central framework (Chapters 1-6)SEEA Central framework (Chapters 1-6) To be submitted for adoption to UNSC in March 2012 SEEA Experimental Ecosystem AccountsSEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounts UNSD/World Bank and EEA have been given the task to lead their developmentUNSD/World Bank and EEA have been given the task to lead their development Draft list of issues has been prepared and discussed at the London Group in September – still open for commentsDraft list of issues has been prepared and discussed at the London Group in September – still open for comments Expert Group comprising experts from statistical, scientific and ecological economics community has been establishedExpert Group comprising experts from statistical, scientific and ecological economics community has been established Expert meeting to discuss the issues will take place in London (5-7 December 2011) hosted by ONS and DEFRAExpert meeting to discuss the issues will take place in London (5-7 December 2011) hosted by ONS and DEFRA Not a standard but expected to be submitted to UNSC in 2013Not a standard but expected to be submitted to UNSC in 2013 SEEA Extension and Applications SEEA Extension and Applications Scope and content agreed by the UNCEEAScope and content agreed by the UNCEEA In the process of identifying authors for different topicsIn the process of identifying authors for different topics

11. Thank you