The Environment Statistics Section of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) is engaged in the development of methodologies, data collection, technical cooperation, and coordination in the fields of environmental statistics and indicators.

Methodological work includes the elaboration of frameworks, concepts, methods, definitions, and data compilation guidelines to support the development and harmonization of national and international statistics on the environment.

Data collection is implemented through the biennial Questionnaire on Environment Statistics. Data collection was carried out in 1999, 2001, 2004 and 2006. Main environmental indicators derived from the data are available. UNSD has embarked on the fifth round of data collection and the Questionnaire 2008 on Environment Statistics was sent to countries in May 2008.

Technical cooperation, training and capacity building is provided through regional and sub-regional projects, international training workshops, fellowship arrangements and assistance to countries. Recent projects covered the countries of the CARICOM, ESCWA and ECOWAS regions.

Coordination of international activities in the field of environmental statistics and indicators is provided through the the Intersecretariat Working Group on Environment Statistics (IWG-Env) with UNSD as the Secretariat.

ENVSTATS is the environment statistics newsletter of UNSD. Issues from 1995 are available.

Issue 19-20 of the newsletter is now available.