1. FDES: Chapter 2 Conceptual Foundation and Structure
Understand you are more expert than I in some topics. I’m a generalist. I know less and less about more and more. Feel free to ask questions of clarification. Save the technical discussions for discussions and coffee breaks.
FDES: Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics

2. Outline
Level 1 (20 min) 1. Need, revision, description 2. Conceptual foundations 3. Structure and overview Group exercise (30 min) Level 2 (30 min) 4. Applications 5. Links to socio-economic Group discussion (10 min)
See link to YouTube video…
FDES Chapter 2

3. Learning objectives Level 1 Level 2
Understand the concepts of FDES manual
Understand the need for a framework
Learn to describe your data
Level 2
Understand applications and links
All of these sessions are simply an introduction to the manual. They are not a substitute. Consider the manual as your Textbook!
FDES Chapter 2

4. What is a framework? FDES:
“A structure that includes the relationship amongst a set of assumptions, concepts, and practices that establish an approach for accomplishing a stated objective or objectives.” (
FDES:
Structure: Concepts, classifications  measurement
Assumptions: Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, Responses
Concepts: Environment-Economy-Society linkages  Components
Practices: Methods, measures, institutions
Objectives: Support agencies in collecting, harmonizing and producing coherent environment statistics
FDES Chapter 2

5. Why a framework? Define scope of environment statistics
Provide common tools
Define roles of stakeholders to build a common platform
International framework allows comparison and common tools
[Could add another linking FDES to SDGs)
FDES Chapter 2

6. Revisions FDES 1984 required updating
UN Statistical Commission endorsed revised FDES (2013)
Recognizing its importance to 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
FDES 2014 adds:
Better scientific knowledge
Core set of environment statistics
Links to SEEA
You need to be a bit of an ecologist, environmental scientist, geographer, economist, sociologist…It’s not easy!
You need to work with other agencies: Not many statistics agencies directly count trees, birds, pollution, coal reserves…
FDES: Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics
FDES Chapter 2

7. Descriptions
Flexible, multi-purpose conceptual and statistical framework
Structure to collect and organize
Comprehensive and integrative
Scope: Biophysical and human
Audience: Environment statistics programmes (National Statistical Offices and National Statistical Systems)
Users: Data providers, compilers and users
[Could structure this]
FDES Chapter 2

8. Conceptual foundation
The Human sub-system (society and economy) exist within and as a part of the environment. To understand and measure the interactions, we also need to understand the related processes in each.
FDES Chapter 2

9. Conceptual foundations
Natural processes and human activities change environmental conditions over time. These changes, in turn, result in impacts on the Human sub- system.
FDES Chapter 2

10. FDES Structures 6 Components Multi-level: Component Sub-component
Topic
Statistics
FDES Chapter 2

11. FDES Structure
FDES Chapter 2

12. FDES Components (Chapter 3)
Component 1: Environmental conditions and quality
1.1 Physical conditions
1.2 Land cover, ecosystems and biodiversity
1.3 Environmental quality
Examples of Core Set Statistics
This is in the middle because it supports everything else…
Examples??? Conditions, ecosystems, biodiversity, quality…
FDES Chapter 2

13. FDES Components (Chapter 3)
Component 2: Environmental resources and their use
2.1 Mineral resources
2.2 Energy resources
2.3 Land
2.4 Soil
2.5 Biological resources
2.6 Water resources
Examples of Core Set Statistics
Examples?
FDES Chapter 2

14. FDES Components (Chapter 3)
Component 3: Residuals
3.1 Emissions to air
3.2 Generation & management of wastewater
3.3 Generation & management of waste
3.4 Release of chemical substances
Examples of Core Set Statistics
Examples?
FDES Chapter 2

15. FDES Components (Chapter 3)
Component 4: Extreme events and disasters
4.1 Natural extreme events & disasters
4.2 Technological disasters
Examples of Core Set Statistics
Examples?
FDES Chapter 2

16. FDES Components (Chapter 3)
Component 5: Human habitat and environmental health
5.1 Human settlements
5.2 Environmental health
Examples of Core Set Statistics
Examples?
FDES Chapter 2

17. FDES Components (Chapter 3)
Component 6: Environment protection, management and engagement
6.1 Environment protection & resource management expenditure
6.2 Environment governance & regulation
6.3 Extreme event preparedness & disaster management
6.4. Environment information & awareness
Examples of Core Set Statistics
Examples?
FDES Chapter 2

18. Group exercise Groups of 3-4 15 minutes to prepare
Select the SAME dataset or “statistical activity” you chose for the Chapter 1 exercise [See Inventory Template]
Describe one statistic that is derived from it [4.1.1]
Assign it to its FDES Component and Sub-component [1.6]
What classifications does it use? [2.2.3]
What is the frequency of the output data? [4.3.3]
What is the geographic scope? [4.2.1]
Report (somebody else): 2 minutes!
Need to change references to inventory!
FDES Chapter 2

19. Welcome to Level 2! Links to SDGs
From Basic set to Core set (Chapter 4)
Applications (Chapter 5)
Links to socio-economic
Group discussion (10 min)
FDES Chapter 2

20. Links to SDGs
FDES Chapter 2

21. Links to SDGs
FDES Chapter 2

22. Links to SDGs
FDES Chapter 2

23. Links to SDGs
FDES Chapter 2

24. Links to SDGs
FDES Chapter 2

25. Links to SDGs - Summary ü FDES Component SDG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1112 13 14 15 16 17
No Poverty
No Hunger
Good Health
Quality Education
Gender Equality
Clean Water and Sanitation
Renewable Energy
Good Jobs and Economic Growth
Innovation and Infrastructure
Reduced Inequalities
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption
Climate Action
Life Below Water
Life on Land
Peace and Justice
Partnerships for the Goals
1. Environmental conditions and quality ü
2. Environmental resources and their use
3. Residuals
4. Extreme events and disasters
5. Human habitat and environmental health
6. Environment protection, management and engagement
FDES Chapter 2

26. Links to SDGs - Summary 1. Environmental conditions and quality
2. Environmental resources and their use
3. Residuals
4. Extreme events and disasters
5. Human habitat and environmental health
6. Environment protection, management and engagement
FDES Chapter 2

27. From Basic set to Core set (Chapter 4)
Tier 1 (Core set)
Tier 2
Tier 3
Number of statistics
100
200
158
Relevance
High
Medium
Depends on context
Resources and time required
Low
Methodology
Very good
Good
Needs testing
Priority
Short term (1-2 years)
Medium term (3-5 years)
Long term (5-10 years)
FDES Chapter 2

28. Applications (FDES Chapter 5)
Cross-cutting policy issues
Sustainable development
Climate change
Green economy
Agriculture and the environment
Water and the environment
Energy and the environment
Others?
FDES Chapter 2

29. Sustainable development!
Weak sustainability: Maintain sum of capitals (produced, human and natural)
Strong sustainability: Maintain minimum of each capital (e.g., ecosystems, critical natural capital)
Natural capital (FDES 1, 2; SEEA-CF):
Renewable: “sustainable” if:
[use, degradation, depletion] < renewable supply
Non-renewable: “sustainable” if:
resource life < expected substitute
e.g., freshwater is “renewable” (precipitation)
use is “sustainable” if amount used < precipitation
Not in FDES
FDES Chapter 2

30. “Green” economy Technological change to reduce impacts
Environmental Goods and Services Sector (SEEA-CF)
Environmental Protection Expenditures (FDES 6.1; SEEA-CF)
Environmental performance of economy and population (consumption, production, pollution, change)
Resource productivity (energy, water, carbon, pollution) (FDES 2; SEEA- CF Material Flows)
Not in FDES
FDES Chapter 2

31. Climate change Climate process drivers Climate change
1.1 Environmental quality
1.3.1 Air quality
3.1 Emissions to Air
3.1.1 Emissions of GHGs
Climate change
1.1 Physical conditions
1.1.1 Atmosphere, climate
4.1 Natural extreme events
Impacts & vulnerability
1.1 Physical conditions
1.2 Land cover, ecosystems and biodiversity
1.3 Environmental quality
2.3 Land
4.1 Natural extreme events
5.1 Human settlements
5.2 Environmental health
Mitigation & adaptation
2.2 Energy resources
6.1 Environmental protection
6.2 Governance and regulation
6.3 Extreme event preparedness
6.4 Environment information & awareness
FDES Chapter 2

32. Agriculture and the environment
PRODUCTION
2.5 Biological resources
Crops (harvested)
Livestock (slaughtered)
RESIDUALS
3.1 Emissions to Air
3.2 Wastewater
3.3 Waste
INPUTS
2.5 Biological resources
Crops (Fertilizers)
Livestock (Pesticides)
Other areas not specific to Agriculture
See also: SEEA-Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
FDES Chapter 2

33. Water and the environment
Freshwater as a commodity:
Drinking, cleaning, cooling, incorporation into products, substrate for human activities (FDES 2)
Water as an ecosystem (freshwater, coastal, marine):
Cultural and spiritual services (FDES 1)
Water provides regulation and maintenance services:
Purification, carbon sequestration (FDES 1)
Not in FDES
FDES Chapter 2

34. Energy and the environment
Non-renewable:
Extraction, processing, consumption impacts (FDES 2)
Renewable:
Infrastructure, processing, consumption impacts (FDES 2)
Consumption:
Efficiency (FDES 2)
Not in FDES
FDES Chapter 2

35. No framework covers all  Link them!
Environment indicator frameworks (DPSIR, MDGs, SDGs, SDI, issue-based)
SEEA
Environment-Economy Accounting
SNA
Economy
FDES
Environment Statistics
No framework covers everything!
Use existing classifications to link.
Social data
Environment data
Economic data
DPSIR = Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, Responses MDGs = Millennium Development Goals SDGs = Sustainable Development Goals SDI = Sustainable Development Indicators SEEA = System of Environmental-Economic Accounting SNA = System of National Accounts
FDES Chapter 2

36. Environment accounts and statistics
SEEA-CF (Central Framework)
Assets
Physical flows
Monetary flows
Minerals & Energy, Land, Timber, Soil, Water, Aquatic, Other Biological
Materials, Energy, Water, Emissions, Effluents, Wastes
Protection expenditures, taxes & subsidies
SEEA Water; SEEA Energy; SEEA Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Add sector detail
As above for
Water
Energy
Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries
SEEA-EEA (Experimental Ecosystem Accounting)
Adds spatial detail and ecosystem perspective
Extent, Condition, Ecosystem Services, Carbon, Water, Biodiversity
FDES (Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics)
Basic statistics for above plus…
Extreme events and disasters
Human settlements and health
Protection, management & engagement
Six SEEA accounts are required in EU Countries by legislation: Air emissions, material flows, energy, EPE, EGSS, taxes & subsidies,
The SNA 2008 is 722 pages
The SEEA-CF is only 346
The SEEA-EEA is only 198
ESCAP - Environment Statistics Overview

37. Discussion What “frameworks” are used in your country in:
Statistical offices?
Environment and natural resource departments?
How do they link to FDES?
Which component/sub-component?
What’s missing? (equity/access to resources, distribution of impacts…)
Take home exercise: Choose one SDG Target (pick a card from prepared cards); (see FDES Chapter 2 Exercise - Linking FDES to SDGs(4per).PDF)
By the end of the week describe which FDES Components, sub-components, topics could be used to address this Target.
FDES Chapter 2

38. Individual Exercise Take one SDG indicator card from the box.
Over next 3 days, look for which FDES Components/sub- components address this.
Write on the card
We will post and discuss on Day 3
5.1 Human settlements
FDES Chapter 2

39. References FDES: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/environment/fdes.htm
SEEA-CF:
SEEA-Energy:
SEEA-Water:
SEEA-Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
SEEA-EEA (Experimental Ecosystem Accounting):
FDES Chapter 2

40. Acknowledgements Materials prepared by: Materials adapted from:
Michael Bordt
Regional Adviser on Environment Statistics
ESCAP Statistics Division
Materials adapted from:
UNSD (Environment Statistics) FDES presentations:
Tanzania:
Togo: ml (aussi en Français)
FDES Chapter 2

41. FDES and social and economic statistics
Structured to link with social and economic domains
SNA: System of National Accounts
SEEA: System of Environmental-Economic Accounting
DPSIR: Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Response
MDGs: Millennium Development Goals
SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals
SDI: Sustainable Development Indicator frameworks
Uses existing statistical classifications (when available)
 Facilitates integration
FDES Chapter 2