System of Environmental and Economic Accounts The SEEA 2003 Revision Mark de Haan Statistics Netherlands London Group WIOD Conference Vienna 26 May 2010

Outline presentation 1. Goal SEEA revision 2.New SEEA structure 3.Key revision issues 4. Governance revision process 5. Time frame

The idea of environmental- economic accounting –Merge economic and environmental statistics in one common framework –Focus on environmental-economic interactions –Satellite accounting approach: SNA as point of departure for concepts, definitions and classifications –Coherent statistical information system for strategic and policy analysis and indicator construction

History SEEA –1993 SEEA (interim version) Released together with the SNA 1993 Key focus on adjusted national income –2003 SEEA book of best practices complemented by various implementation guides (in the area of resource accounting) –2012 SEEA statistical standard (like the SNA): - No multiple options - No country applications

Content and Structure new SEEA Volume 1 – Standardized accounts a) Physical flow accounts –SU tables for materials (kg), energy (j) and water (m3) –Resource inputs, product flows, residual outputs –Covers emissions and waste accounts –Hybrid accounts (NAMEAs)

Content and Structure new SEEA Volume 1 – Standardized accounts b) Natural resource asset accounts –SNA type assets (minerals, land, water, forests, fish) –Economic ownership and benefits –Asset accounts (in quantities and money) –Depletion adjusted current accounts

Content and Structure new SEEA Volume 1 – Standardized accounts c) Economic transactions related to the environment –Protection expenditure –Resource management expenditure –Environmental taxes & subsidies (or transfers) –Permits to use the environment

Structure new SEEA Volume 2 – Non standardized accounts –Ecosystem and ecosystem services accounts (expanding the asset boundary) –Valuation of environmental degradation (expanding the scope of valuation) Volume 3 – Policy uses and applications –Policy themes (sustainable production & consumption, climate change) –Indicator construction (footprints, decoupling, adjusted income and saving)

Key issues, some highlights Volume 1 (21 revision items) Classification of material flows –Bridging resident versus territory principle –Reconciling existing energy and waste classifications –MFA and SNA boundaries –Waste, products and residuals –Net material/energy/water use Environment related transactions –Taxes, subsidies –Permits –Environmental industry

Key issues, continued Environmental assets –Economic (SNA) assets and beyond –Ownership, Benefits – Renewable energy resources –Classification Natural resource depletion –Depletion adjusted balancing items –Renewables and non-renewables –Soil and land

SEEA revision governance structure (similar to SNA model) –Responsible body is UNCEEA –LG proposed research agenda and formulates recommendations for each issue –LG discusses issue papers and submit recommendations to the UNCEEA –International consultation of proposed recommendations –Editor drafts new SEEA chapters –International consultation of SEEA chapters

SEEA revision time frame 2010 resolution by the LG of 21 vol.1 revision items and adoption by UNSC early 2011 Mid 2011 finalisation vol.1 and start global consultation Early 2012 adoption vol.1 by UNSC (together with release interim vol.3) Early 2014 adoption vols 2 & 3

Further information on Environmental Accounting, SEEA, London Group and the UNCEEA: SEEA News and Notes Thank you!