Methodology

The Environmental-Economic Accounting Section focuses its work on the standardization of statistical methods, classifications and definitions in environmental-economic accounting and on the development of practical guidelines and training material to assist countries in the implementation of the accounts.

In 2003, the Handbook of National Accounting: Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting, Rev.1, commonly referred to as SEEA 2003, was issued as white cover publication prior to official editing. The SEEA 2003 is a major step towards the harmonization of concepts and methods in environmental-economic accounting: its preparation represented an opportunity to review and discuss countries practices as well as advance the concepts, definitions and classifications.

The preparation of the SEEA 2003 was undertaken under the joint responsibility of the United Nations, Eurostat, IMF, OECD and the World Bank and much of the work was done by the London Group on Environmental Accounting.

In 2006, the Statistical Commission at its thirty-seventh session endorsed the objectives and work programme of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Environmental-Economic Accounting (UNCEEA) which include elevating the SEEA 2003 to an international statistical standard by 2010. A research agenda for the elevation of the SEEA 2003 is in the process of being developed and agreed. UNSD will contribute to the advancement of the research agenda.

The Environmental-Economic Accounting Section works in collaboration with other international organizations, city groups and other experts to advance the methodology and facilitate exchange of information in environmental-economic accounting. It has recently prepared:

the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) in collaboration with the London Group on Environmental Accounting, in particular, with its Sub-Group on Water Accounting. The Statistical Commission at its thirty-eighth session upon recommendation of the UNCEEA adopted Part I of the SEEAW as an interim international statistical standard, subject to a possible re-evaluation, taking into account the consistency in style and content of the revised SEEA-2003. It is expected to be published in 2007 and will be available in the six UN official languages.

the Integrated Environmental and Economic Accounting for Fisheries (SEEAF) jointly with FAO. The SEEAF has been issued as a white cover publication prior to official editing. It is expected to be published in 2007 and will be available in the six UN official languages.

The Environmental-Economic Accounting Section is currently also involved in the advancement of the methodology in the area of energy accounts. In particular, it is working on the preparation of a publication on Energy Accounts in collaboration with the Subgroup of the London Group on Mineral and Energy Accounting moderated by Statistics Denmark and the Oslo Group on Energy Statistics.