PROPOSED STANDARD TABLES FOR VOLUME 1 OF THE REVISED SEEA Peter Comisari London Group meeting, Wiesbaden 30 Nov – 4 Dec 2009.

PROPOSED STANDARD PROPOSED STANDARD TABLES FOR VOLUME 1 TABLES FOR VOLUME 1 OF THE REVISED SEEAOF THE REVISED SEEA

Peter ComisariPeter Comisari

London Group meeting, Wiesbaden London Group meeting, Wiesbaden 30 Nov – 4 Dec 200930 Nov – 4 Dec 2009

Session overviewSession overview

Outline background and other Outline background and other considerations for standard accounts in considerations for standard accounts in volume 1 of the SEEA Revvolume 1 of the SEEA Rev

For each ‘block’ of standard tables:For each ‘block’ of standard tables: invite discussion on principles, issues etcinvite discussion on principles, issues etc suggestions, directions for table content, suggestions, directions for table content,

structure etc.structure etc. but we cannot redraft the tables in this roombut we cannot redraft the tables in this room

Standard tables for the SEEA RevStandard tables for the SEEA Rev

the SEEA Rev requires an effective, the SEEA Rev requires an effective, functioning set of integrated environmental functioning set of integrated environmental economic accounts, i.e. economic accounts, i.e. tables that effectively inform contemporary tables that effectively inform contemporary

policymaking involving the economy and the policymaking involving the economy and the environment environment

proposed statistical outputs must be proposed statistical outputs must be realistically achievable by a substantial realistically achievable by a substantial number of national statistical agenciesnumber of national statistical agencies

Where did these proposed Where did these proposed standard tables come from?standard tables come from?

A number of influences / sources:A number of influences / sources: SEEA-2003SEEA-2003 Other relevant handbooksOther relevant handbooks London Group / UNCEEA discussionsLondon Group / UNCEEA discussions Discussions outside of formal processesDiscussions outside of formal processes Annotated outline of volume 1 SEEA Rev to Annotated outline of volume 1 SEEA Rev to

UNCEEA meeting in June 2009UNCEEA meeting in June 2009 Standard tables are a synthesis of above Standard tables are a synthesis of above

inputs inputs

The SEEA Rev as a standardThe SEEA Rev as a standard

After the SEEA Rev elevated to statistical After the SEEA Rev elevated to statistical standard:standard: extensive implementation programextensive implementation program ongoing data collection and data quality ongoing data collection and data quality

assessment frameworkassessment framework• data quality assessment framework will assess data quality assessment framework will assess

conceptual compliance and the extent of countries’ conceptual compliance and the extent of countries’ implementation of the standard implementation of the standard

SEEA standard tables, SEEA sub-SEEA standard tables, SEEA sub-modules and compilation guidesmodules and compilation guides

SEEA-2003 was produced prior to the SEEA-2003 was produced prior to the various SEEA sub-modules:various SEEA sub-modules: SEEA-Water (interim international standard) SEEA-Water (interim international standard) SEEA-Energy (in progress)SEEA-Energy (in progress) SEEA-MFA (proposed)SEEA-MFA (proposed)

The SEEA Rev will draw from these sub-The SEEA Rev will draw from these sub-modules but will not attempt the same modules but will not attempt the same level of product-specific detail or level of product-specific detail or specialised analysis specialised analysis

How much detail?How much detail?

We should expect subsequent revisions of We should expect subsequent revisions of the SEEA to extend and refine the body of the SEEA to extend and refine the body of ‘standard’ information contained ‘standard’ information contained As integrated Environmental Economic As integrated Environmental Economic

accounting grows in use and influence...accounting grows in use and influence... There are dangers in including excessive There are dangers in including excessive

detail in the first edition of the SEEA detail in the first edition of the SEEA standard standard

Some details missing at present…Some details missing at present…

For some of the proposed tables, industry For some of the proposed tables, industry and product detail is not yet developedand product detail is not yet developed in some cases, we are waiting on in some cases, we are waiting on

developments in classificationsdevelopments in classifications There are no codes in place for data items There are no codes in place for data items

in proposed tablesin proposed tables but this is neededbut this is needed where possible, consistent with SNA (though where possible, consistent with SNA (though

SEEA will have many more codes)SEEA will have many more codes)

Supplementary tables for the SEEA Supplementary tables for the SEEA Rev?Rev?

Supplementary tables could present Supplementary tables could present additional detail or alternative viewpoint, additional detail or alternative viewpoint, compared to the standard SEEA tables compared to the standard SEEA tables to guide users on possible extensions to to guide users on possible extensions to

standard SEEA presentationsstandard SEEA presentations Used in the SEEA-WaterUsed in the SEEA-Water Appropriate in the SEEA Rev?Appropriate in the SEEA Rev?

One or two asset boundaries?One or two asset boundaries?

SEEA-2003 effectively has two asset boundaries—SEEA-2003 effectively has two asset boundaries—one for (SNA) economic assets, and a second for one for (SNA) economic assets, and a second for those SEEA assets not considered SNA assetsthose SEEA assets not considered SNA assets

SEEA therefore applies different accounting SEEA therefore applies different accounting treatments for similar processes, depending on treatments for similar processes, depending on whether the asset is an ‘SNA asset’ or not whether the asset is an ‘SNA asset’ or not

Subject of discussion in Wiesbaden…Subject of discussion in Wiesbaden… If we choose to change this situation (to a single If we choose to change this situation (to a single

asset boundary) there are implications for monetary asset boundary) there are implications for monetary accounts in the SEEA Revaccounts in the SEEA Rev

Standard tables related to climate Standard tables related to climate change?change?

SEEA Rev standard tables will mostly have SEEA Rev standard tables will mostly have been produced over a period of time using been produced over a period of time using well established methodologieswell established methodologies

but this is not true for those tables designed but this is not true for those tables designed to inform policy related to emission trading to inform policy related to emission trading schemes (ETS)schemes (ETS) very recently producedvery recently produced in a small number of countries… in a small number of countries…

Standard tables related to climate Standard tables related to climate change? change? continued…continued…

but overwhelming policy importance attached to but overwhelming policy importance attached to ETS – climate changeETS – climate change

special ability of integrated environmental economic special ability of integrated environmental economic accounts to inform this policy area accounts to inform this policy area

decoupling is central to our strategies to avoid decoupling is central to our strategies to avoid potentially catastrophic climate changepotentially catastrophic climate change decoupling can decoupling can onlyonly be informed using integrated be informed using integrated

environmental and economic information systemsenvironmental and economic information systems therefore, SEEA Rev needs standard tables related to therefore, SEEA Rev needs standard tables related to

evaluation of ETS - climate change evaluation of ETS - climate change

Standard SEEA Rev tables support Standard SEEA Rev tables support indicators indicators

Standard tables must support a number of Standard tables must support a number of ‘simple to understand’ indicators‘simple to understand’ indicators as agreed at London Group in Brusselsas agreed at London Group in Brussels

standard tables presented here standard tables presented here dodo support support this range of indicatorsthis range of indicators One of the excel files presents a checklistOne of the excel files presents a checklist

Indicators will be described in volume 3 of Indicators will be described in volume 3 of the SEEA Revthe SEEA Rev

SEEA standard tables are a work-SEEA standard tables are a work-in-progressin-progress

proposed SEEA standard tables are an proposed SEEA standard tables are an opening statement on content and form of opening statement on content and form of tablestables to provoke discussionto provoke discussion tables compiled prior to drafting of chapters of tables compiled prior to drafting of chapters of

the SEEA Rev the SEEA Rev and prior to the final resolution of a number of and prior to the final resolution of a number of

identified SEEA update issues identified SEEA update issues tables will be further developed and refined as tables will be further developed and refined as

SEEA revision progressesSEEA revision progresses

Broad groupings of proposed Broad groupings of proposed standard tablesstandard tables

Follows Attachment 2 of paper LG/15/25…Follows Attachment 2 of paper LG/15/25… Flow accounts; physical, monetary and Flow accounts; physical, monetary and

hybrid (17 tables)hybrid (17 tables) Emissions accounts (11)Emissions accounts (11) Environmentally-related transactions Environmentally-related transactions

accounts (5)accounts (5) Asset accounts (11)Asset accounts (11)

Brief description of proposed Brief description of proposed standard tablesstandard tables

Flow accounts; physical, monetary and Flow accounts; physical, monetary and hybrid (for water, energy and materials)hybrid (for water, energy and materials) Tables 1 to 17Tables 1 to 17 Supply and use accountsSupply and use accounts Tables not identical for each of water, energy Tables not identical for each of water, energy

and materialsand materials But physical accounts for water (etc.) must But physical accounts for water (etc.) must

correspond to monetary accounts for water correspond to monetary accounts for water (etc.) to support hybrid accounts(etc.) to support hybrid accounts

Flow accounts; physical, monetary Flow accounts; physical, monetary and hybrid, and hybrid, continued…continued…

Water tables based on SEEA-Water Water tables based on SEEA-Water standard tablesstandard tables

Energy tables based on SEEA-E proposed Energy tables based on SEEA-E proposed standard tablesstandard tables require finalisation of energy products require finalisation of energy products

classificationclassification


Q. Should we explicitly show flows to / Q. Should we explicitly show flows to / from the environment?from the environment? in most cases, the source / destination of the in most cases, the source / destination of the

resource is obvious resource is obvious but it is important to know how much resource but it is important to know how much resource

has been extracted from environment and has been extracted from environment and how much actually enters the economy (since how much actually enters the economy (since losses are potentially significant) losses are potentially significant)


Q. Which Physical supply and use tables Q. Which Physical supply and use tables for material products are preferred?for material products are preferred? Tables 1 and 2Tables 1 and 2 Tables 1 and 2 – alternativeTables 1 and 2 – alternative

First set of tables identify environment as an First set of tables identify environment as an entity receiving/providing flowsentity receiving/providing flows

Second set adopts approach of proposed Second set adopts approach of proposed energy supply and use tablesenergy supply and use tables

Hybrid flow accountsHybrid flow accounts

Critically important and must be a core Critically important and must be a core feature of environmental-economic feature of environmental-economic accountsaccounts

But are ‘standard’ hybrid accounts But are ‘standard’ hybrid accounts desirable, or even possible?desirable, or even possible? because specific policy concerns vary greatly because specific policy concerns vary greatly

across countriesacross countries

Hybrid flow accounts, Hybrid flow accounts, continued…continued…

Suggest that we place as much relevant material Suggest that we place as much relevant material as concisely as possible into hybrid accountsas concisely as possible into hybrid accounts

Then use volume 3 of SEEA Rev to showcase Then use volume 3 of SEEA Rev to showcase the development of a wide range of potential the development of a wide range of potential hybrid analyses hybrid analyses i.e. countries will develop their own specific on-going i.e. countries will develop their own specific on-going

hybrid accountshybrid accounts

Q. Does LG agree with this broad approach?Q. Does LG agree with this broad approach?

Emissions accounts (tables number Emissions accounts (tables number 17 to 28)17 to 28)

Emissions to other economic units, and to Emissions to other economic units, and to the environmentthe environment

Various emissions shown; to air, water etc.Various emissions shown; to air, water etc. Tables adaptable to country requirements Tables adaptable to country requirements

– types of emissions, industries etc. reflect – types of emissions, industries etc. reflect country-specific policy concernscountry-specific policy concerns

Emissions accounts, Emissions accounts, continued…continued…

Important to link CO2 IPCC (Kyoto Important to link CO2 IPCC (Kyoto protocol) to SEEA – table 23 protocol) to SEEA – table 23

Separate presentation Emission boundary Separate presentation Emission boundary (bridge table) Ole Gravgård - London (bridge table) Ole Gravgård - London Group at WiesbadenGroup at Wiesbaden crucial information for informing emissions crucial information for informing emissions

policy etc .policy etc .


Table 25 - stocks and flows of carbon is Table 25 - stocks and flows of carbon is suggested for SEEA Rev standard tablessuggested for SEEA Rev standard tables simple asset account presentationsimple asset account presentation as for ETS evaluation, little experience in this as for ETS evaluation, little experience in this

field of measurementfield of measurement Q. Is this table realistically achievable? Is a Q. Is this table realistically achievable? Is a

partially complete table useful?partially complete table useful?


Table 26 – Linking CO2 emissions and the Table 26 – Linking CO2 emissions and the economyeconomy

Q. Is this body of information useful to Q. Is this body of information useful to inform assessment of emission trading inform assessment of emission trading schemes?schemes?

Tables 27 and 28 should now be based on Tables 27 and 28 should now be based on those described in LG/15/18/2those described in LG/15/18/2

Environmentally-related transactions Environmentally-related transactions accounts (tables 29 to 33)accounts (tables 29 to 33)

Standard accounts on EGSS, EPE, NRMStandard accounts on EGSS, EPE, NRM Based on Eurostat’s Based on Eurostat’s Handbook on Handbook on

Environmental Goods and ServicesEnvironmental Goods and Services But these are too detailed for countries But these are too detailed for countries

outside of Europe…outside of Europe… remove details on ancillary, market / non-remove details on ancillary, market / non-

market status, institutional sectormarket status, institutional sector EGSS not shown by connected, adapted, EGSS not shown by connected, adapted,

end-of-pipe technology etc.end-of-pipe technology etc.

Environmentally-related Environmentally-related transactions accountstransactions accounts

Ignore / delete table 30 (EGSS etc by Ignore / delete table 30 (EGSS etc by environmental domain)environmental domain)


Table 33 contains 4 'blocks' of information: (1) Taxes and subsidies - broken into 'environmental' and then 'non-environmental' groupings. The latter is only shown to indicate the size of environmental taxes/subsidies; (2) EPE and NRM expenditures (same aggregate from bottom line of table 31) - again, providing a reference point for size of environmental taxes and subsidies;(3) Rent payments; and (4) Other relevant transfers.


Table 33 is not completeTable 33 is not complete Assumes use of CEA classification, as Assumes use of CEA classification, as

appropriate…appropriate… Q. Environment taxes: too detailed?? Q. Environment taxes: too detailed?? Q. What additional detail required on Q. What additional detail required on

environmental subsidies?environmental subsidies?

Asset accounts (tables number 34 Asset accounts (tables number 34 to 39to 39

Asset accounts record stock position for Asset accounts record stock position for various assets, and relevant flows causing various assets, and relevant flows causing changes to stock positionschanges to stock positions

Scope is land; mineral & energy Scope is land; mineral & energy resources; water and biological resources resources; water and biological resources (produced and non-produced)(produced and non-produced)

Asset accountsAsset accounts

For ‘biological resources’ specific For ‘biological resources’ specific examples are for forests / timber and fishexamples are for forests / timber and fish

Note that for forests / timber propose use Note that for forests / timber propose use of Asset accounts from LG/15/13 (with of Asset accounts from LG/15/13 (with modifications as suggested at LG modifications as suggested at LG Wiesbaden)Wiesbaden)

PROPOSED STANDARD TABLES FOR VOLUME 1 OF THE REVISED SEEA Peter Comisari London Group meeting, Wiesbaden 30 Nov – 4 Dec 2009.

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