Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 11 Dec 2023 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Icon-Institut
Description: * Provide an overview of the key concepts of SEEA ecosystem accounting; * Provide an overview of how national ecosystem accounts are constructed, and how they relate to ‘mainstream’ environmental and national accounting, * Provide understanding the data and tools used to construct the component parts of the accounts (e.g. spatial and environmental data in GIS for ecosystem extent; ecosystem services evidence; monetary valuation techniques).
Target Audience: NSIs and Other National Authorities (with lower priority), working in the field of ecosystem accounting.
Description: The African Development Bank’s Statistics Department, in collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics Rwanda (NISR), will host the Second Edition of the Innovate Africa Symposium on 2-4 October 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda. Centered on "Strengthening Data Governance in the African Data Ecosystem," the symposium will address recent significant advancements in data governance that will ultimately benefit the entire continent, highlighting the pivotal role of robust data governance frameworks in harnessing data for socio-economic growth in the digital era. Participants will include an eclectic mix of leaders from government, civil society, the private sector, academia, and international organizations who will deliberate on enhancing transparency, efficiency, and innovation through effective data governance. Symposium sessions will be both plenary and panel discussions. Parallel sessions exploring different dimensions of data governance will take place on Innovation & Strategy, Platforms & Process, and Case Studies & Technology Demos.
Description: Addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and other related issues requires high quality and consistent data on the environment-economy nexus. The System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) provides the agreed upon statistical framework for measuring the relationship between the environment and the economy. There is a need to strengthen the capacities of NSOs to produce and disseminate SEEA accounts to better meet the needs of users for high quality integrated data on climate change, biodiversity and the economy. In the Central Asia region, national statistical offices (NSOs) have expressed strong interest to compiling various SEEA accounts, including taking steps towards compiling energy and air emission accounts which are among the most relevant accounts for informing climate change. Ecosystem accounts inform biodiversity as well as climate change related issues. With the recent adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), demand by users for ecosystem accounts will increase as the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting is the methodological base for several headline indicators of the GBF. The workshop, organized by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the UN Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), with the support of the Office of the Director-General for Policy Planning on Statistical Policy, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of the Government of Japan, and in collaboration with the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic aims to further build capacities in the Central Asia region for the compilation of SEEA accounts relevant to climate change and biodiversity.
Description: FAO water data experts participated in the World Water Week in Stockholm from 25 to 29 August, contributing to the global annual conference on water.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 07 Mar 2024 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Icon-Institut
Description: To improve the theoretical and practical knowledge related to the collection, transmission, validation and aggregation of official water statistics. The main focus will be on different data sources and the complementarities of different direct and indirect methods such as measurements, surveys, models and estimations. The description of the respective strengths and weaknesses with special attention to data quality should thus result in an enhancement of the comparability between water statistics from countries using different methods. The courses shall also provide a platform and starting point for cooperation in method development among the countries. The aim of the courses is to explore possible ways of avoiding inconsistencies in the European water statistics and to obtain a more effective statistics production.
Target Audience: Staff involved in the production of official water statistics and other quantitative information under Union law on water.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 07 Mar 2024 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Statistics Norway
Description: To provide the participants with a basic understanding of how to produce statistics with the use of geocoded statistical registers and map databases. Emphasis is on the use of Vector data and Vector tools, but we will also touch into the use of Raster tools and Raster data. We will be using the Open Source GIS-tool QGIS.
Target Audience: The course is introductory, for persons with none to some practical experience in GIS/ GI/ cartography, wanting to learn the basics in using GIS for statistics production and analysis.
Description: This webinar is part of the SEEA Webinar series “Uses of the SEEA for Policy, developed with the aim to highlight various priority and/or emerging policy areas that can be informed by the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). This webinar will provide an opportunity for participants to learn about recent country experiences in compiling the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting, the statistical framework underlying headline indicators A.2 Extent of natural ecosystems and B.1 Services provided by ecosystems. The webinar will look at these experiences from a technical and practical standpoint, with an eye towards how the accounts can feed into countries’ monitoring and reporting efforts for the Global Biodiversity Framework. The objectives of this webinar are: To share experiences in the compilation of the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting, with focus on data sources, institutional environment, resources and methods used. To gain an insight into the lessons learned and practical steps that countries have taken in the compilation of SEEA Ecosystem Accounting; and To understand how the ecosystem accounts can be used for national monitoring and reporting under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Description: This online workshop is organized by the Food and Nutrition Centre of CREA and the Food and Nutrition Division of FAO (ESN) within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding between FAO and Italian Research Institutes (IRI).
Description: This is the first webinar of the webinar series on the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) organized by the United Nations Committee of Experts on Environmental-Economic Accounting (UNCEEA). This webinar aims at providing a foundational understanding of the SEEA and how the SEEA can support national implementation of the monitoring framework of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The SEEA provides the methodological basis for a number of indicators of the monitoring framework of the GBF. In particular, the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting will provide the methodological basis for three headline indicators adopted for high-level monitoring of the GBF, including in national reports under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) — i.e., indicators A.2 Extent of natural ecosystems, B.1 Services provided by ecosystems and 9.1 Benefits from the sustainable use of wild species. In addition, the SEEA Central Framework includes accounts which contain information on biodiversity expenditures and investments, which are relevant to the GBF’s financing indicators, such as D.3 on Private finance. The full list of indicators can be found in the CBD Decision 15/5. Objectives To understand the SEEA framework and its relevance to the headline indicators of the Kunming Montreal GBF monitoring framework, with a focus on indicators A2 and B1. To discuss the challenges and opportunities in applying the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting for national level monitoring of biodiversity.
Description: The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), in collaboration with Statistics Indonesia (BPS), is organizing a workshop on Big Data in Asia-Pacific countries, focusing on an introduction to Remote Sensing and Land cover classification using remote sensing. The overall objective of the week-long workshop is to help participants better understand the use and benefits of Big Data specifically the utilization of Remote Sensing for Land Cover Classification. To that end, the workshop program will present methods, case studies, and processes that can support the Agricultural Statistics to identify the agricultural lands. This workshop is one of the first activities organized under the umbrella of the new Regional Hub for Big Data and Data Science in Official Statistics, which will be launched on 24 November 2023.
Title in French: Rôle des Instituts Nationaux de la Statistique dans l’écosystème de production des statistiques environnementales et du changement climatique
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 03 Feb 2023 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Icon-Institut
Description: Objectives of this course: * Provide an overview of the key concepts of SEEA ecosystem accounting; * Provide an overview of how national ecosystem accounts are constructed, and how they relate to ‘mainstream’ environmental and national accounting; * Provide understanding the data and tools used to construct the component parts of the accounts (e.g. spatial and environmental data in GIS for ecosystem extent; ecosystem services evidence; monetary valuation techniques).
Target Audience: NSIs and Other National Authorities (with lower priority), working in the field of ecosystem accounting.
Source: ESCAP SIAP (Data extracted on: 07 Dec 2023 )
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Organizer(s): ESCAP SIAP
Description: This e-Learning course introduces the System of Environmental Economic Accounting -Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA)the agreed statistical framework for collecting such information on ecosystems and their relationship to human activity. The SEEA EA provides an integrated statistical framework for organizing biophysical information about ecosystemsmeasuring ecosystem servicestracking changes in ecosystem extent and conditionand linking this information to measures of economic and human activities. It supports the compilation of indicators for several global policy frameworks including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the associated SDGs indicators as well as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The course is being organized by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the UN Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP)under the overall guidance of the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental Economic Accounting (UNCEEA).
Description: UNSD and ESCWA organized a virtual meeting to initiate a collaboration with MEDSTAT V which is one of the programmes on Euro-Mediterranean statistical cooperation. The programme is funded by the European Union, addressing nine Mediterranean countries with duration 2022-2025. The purpose of MEDSTAT V is to improve the development, production and dissemination of reliable and comparable statistical data in the Southern Neighbourhood countries as well as to strengthen the institutional capacity of the partner countries’ National Statistical Institutes and other producers of official statistics. It covers six thematic areas: 1. Business registers and statistics, circular economy, informal economy; 2. Trade and international investment; 3. Inclusiveness: Gender and Labour statistics; 4. Migration surveys and statistics; 5. Energy, transport and sustainable development; 6. Climate action and biodiversity. The programme has already used several of the UN statistical frameworks, including the Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013). Key issues and challenges were discussed, in particular for meeting the needs for climate change information and statistics, for which the Global Set of Climate Change Statistics and Indicators will be disseminated among the nine countries and further implementation support will be offered.
Title in Spanish: Infraestructura Colombiana de Datos Espaciales (ICDE): Ecosistema geoespacial sostenible
Organizer(s): ECLAC DANE Colombia
Description: En una visión del futuro de un “ecosistema geoespacial”, prácticamente todos los miembros de la comunidad mundial interactúan entre sí de forma ubicua, directa o indirectamente, aprovechando información de calidad basada en la localización que permita la realización de análisis geográficos.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 01 Nov 2022 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Icon-Institut
Description: To improve the theoretical and practical knowledge related to the collection, transmission, validation and aggregation of official water statistics. The main focus will be on different data sources and the complementarities of different direct and indirect methods such as measurements, surveys, models and estimations. The description of the respective strengths and weaknesses with special attention to data quality should thus result in an enhancement of the comparability between water statistics from countries using different methods. The courses shall also provide a platform and starting point for cooperation in method development among the countries. The aim of the courses is to explore possible ways of avoiding inconsistencies in the European water statistics and to obtain a more effective statistics production.
Target Audience: Staff involved in the production of official water statistics and other quantitative information under Union law on water.
Description: The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and the United Nations Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP), in collaboration with the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) are organizing a Regional Training Workshop on the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) for the Asia Pacific region. The workshop will be held in Manila, Philippines from 5 to 8 June 2023 and will be conducted in English. The workshop is an opportunity for participants to increase their technical knowledge of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) through exercises, country examples and discussions focusing on ecosystem extent, condition, and services accounts. Participants will learn about the policy relevance of ecosystem accounts and how SEEA EA can support measuring progress towards achieving the targets of national policies and international agreements including the Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement. Institutional mechanisms, data sources and modelling tools will also be introduced. For additional information on the workshop, please see the concept note and provisional agenda.
Description: Plastic pollution has emerged as a global crisis, threatening ecosystems, human health, and the planet's overall well-being. Plastics are omnipresent in national markets and in international trade. Global exports of plastics or goods made from plastic have reached nearly $1.2 trillion in value and 369 million tonnes in 2021 and continues to grow. Trade, financial and investment measures can contribute to the reduction, reuse, substitution, recycling and better management of end-of-life waste. This side-event, moderated by the World Economic Forum, will feature representatives from organizations working on trade-related aspects of the plastics challenge, shedding light on different facets of trade measures in relation to plastic pollution. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will present insights into plastics trade statistics and the role of plastic substitutes. Plastics trade database The World Trade Organization (WTO) will provide an update on the current state of the WTO Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and outline the Dialogue’s plans for concrete and effective outcomes at the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in February 2024, including the WTO Members efforts to address plastic pollution through trade-related mechanisms and measures. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) will delve into the intersection of specific trade provisions for the plastics treaty, exploring the reduction of plastics trade through the full lifecycle of plastics and its legal and policy implications vis-a-vis current trade rules. Lastly, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) will share insights on trade-related aspects essential for improved end-of-life plastic management. The event will be a platform for participants to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with trade measures in the context of ending plastic pollution through the plastics treaty. Join us as we explore innovative solutions and forge partnerships to create a sustainable future for our planet. Programme Moderator:Mr. Soumya Jeet kar, World Economic Forum. Opening remarks: H.E. Ambassador Luis Vayas, Ecuador. Mr. Christoffer Vestli, European Commission. Speakers: UNCTAD: Plastics trade statistics and on the role of plastic substitutes. Speakers: Ms. Anu Peltola, Mr. David Vivas Eugui and Ms. Diana Barrowclough, UNCTAD. WTO: The current state of the WTO Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and plans for the upcoming Ministerial Conference in February 2024. Speaker: Mr. Daniel Ramos, WTO Secretariat. CIEL: The plastics treaty and the reduction of plastics trade through dedicated trade provisions Speaker: Ms. Helionor de Anzizu, CIEL. International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): Addressing trade measures for improved downstream plastic management. Speaker: Mr. Vikas Chhajer, ICC & Gemini Corporation. Q&A Summary and the way forward: Ms. Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, (TESS)
Description: From 22 to 24 March 2023, FAO Statistics will gather in New York during the UN 2023 Water Conference, which is convened by the UN General Assembly and co-hosted by the...
Organizer(s): UNSD ABS Australia Australian National University
Description: As part of the Uinted Nations 2023 Water Conference. the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the Australia National University's Fenner School of Environment and Society (ANU), and Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) are organizing a side event on Water Accounting to support the Sustainable Development Goals. The event will take place virtually on 21 March 2023 from 4 – 5:15 p.m. The 2023 Water Conference supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that was adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. The agenda has 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets that represent an ambitious plan for achieving sustainable development and serves as the basis for countries to shape their national policies and priorities. To achieve the SDGs, information is needed to: identify barriers to, and opportunities for, sustainable development; develop and implement policies and programs for sustainable development, and; monitor progress towards the SDGs. The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) can provide the integrated information to help achieve the SDGs. The SEEA is an international statistical standard that organizes data, turning raw data into to information that can be readily used by decision makers in the public and private sectors. The SEEA provides a standardized suite of accounts allowing for international comparisons, industry benchmarking and a holistic approach to achieving the SDGs. The SEEA directly supports six indicators for SDG 6 “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. It also provides important information on water efficiency, water quality, water scarcity and the reliance on water-related ecosystem services. The SEEA supports SDGs beyond SDG 6, for example SDGs 8 and 12 on sustainable economic growth and responsible consumption and production. The side event will provide a general introduction to water accounting and examine how it can and may be used in decision making. The event will have three short presentations followed by a panel discussion chaired by Gemma van Halderen, Deputy Australian Statistician and Interim Chair of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Environment-Economic Accounting. There will be opportunities for event participants to ask questions on how water accounts can achieve their potential and help find sustainable development pathways.
Description: After multiple years of preparation and negotiation, the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” (GBF) at its 15th meeting in December 2022. The GBF is an inclusive and transformative agenda for protecting, restoring and sustainably using and managing biodiversity and ecosystems. The GBF includes a monitoring framework designed to ensure that implementation of the GBF is results-oriented and can be monitored in a transparent manner. The monitoring framework presents a clear recognition of the role of official statistics and national statistical offices in developing and implementing the framework, as well as the role of statistical standards such as the SEEA in providing high-quality, relevant and coherent data. An ad hoc technical expert group will be established to advise on further operationalization of the monitoring framework and presents a unique opportunity to ensure that nationally owned official statistics on the environment and economy can contribute to national and global monitoring efforts. This in-person high-level side event will provide an opportunity for official statisticians and policymakers to come together to discuss the critical role of national statistical offices in the success of the GBF.
Description: Water is a key resource in tourism. Direct water use for services to tourists, such as showers, pool landscapes, water activities and culinary offers, can be significant. In this context, water consumption rates that indicate the total volume consumed and litres per tourist per day, are recommended indicators. They can be an important measure of physical carrying capacity, especially for water-scarce destinations, and can warn of potential limits or stress on the supply system. In addition, to relieve pressures on water supply and water systems conservation efforts can be measured, such as actions by the accommodation sector to reduce water consumption and to re-use recycled water (e.g. for irrigation purposes). Other indicators can include, inter alia, the measurement of water supply imported to the destination and total use by tourism as a percentage of all users. The drinking water quality in a destination, which is considered an important factor for the wellbeing of tourists, is an additional import dimension for monitoring. Indicators that look into the purity of drinking water supply, such as amount of tourism establishments with water treated to international potable standards, percentage of visitors reporting water-borne illnesses during their stay, and the perception of cleanliness of food and water are among some of the suggested indicators. However, monitoring water management at the destination level remains a major challenge, as collecting information on water is often difficult and costly, quality can be lacking, and the issue is complex as it is related to many aspects such as climate change, agriculture, infrastructure, and others. This is relevant because sustainable water management is seen as central to building the resilience of destinations, their societies and ecosystems. This INSTO Insights webinar discussed the experiences and insights of INSTO Members and experts on monitoring water management, which is one of the 11 mandatory key issue areas INSTO Members are committed to monitor. Experiences was shared on used indicators and various methodologies in this regard. The implications of these monitoring efforts in terms of informing policies and strategies was also discussed.
Description: The growing impact of disasters, associated preventive, preparedness and response measures, and the COP27 decision on establishing a Loss and Damage fund, have all necessitated strengthening of the data ecosystem that underscores decision-making. Mandated by the UN Statistical Commission, the Inter-Agency Expert Group on Disaster-related Statistics (IAEG-DRS) is developing recommendations for a common disaster-related statistical framework for the Commission’s consideration in 2024. The framework will enhance rigour in statistical methods, define parameters for internationally comparable data, and help bridge the gap between national statistical offices (NSOs) and national disaster management offices (NDMOs). The side event will feature governments (especially NSOs and NDMOs) and expert organizations from across the world to share their enriching experience and initiatives on disaster-related statistics. Challenges and good practices will be shared, building on the previous IAEG-DRS meetings and Expert Forums on Producers and Users of Disaster-related statistics.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 31 Jan 2022 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Icon-Institut
Description: Provide an overview of the key concepts of SEEA ecosystem accounting Provide an overview of how national ecosystem accounts are constructed, and how they relate to ‘mainstream’ environmental and national accounting Provide understanding the data and tools used to construct the component parts of the accounts (e.g. spatial and environmental data in GIS for ecosystem extent; ecosystem services evidence; monetary valuation techniques).
Target Audience: NSIs and Other National Authorities (with lower priority), working in the field of ecosystem accounting.
Description: For this Global Network Webinar we are pleased to have Marko Javorsek and Bram Edens from UNSD’s Environmental and Economic Accounts Section who will introduce the concepts and definitions of the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework and provide a practical demonstration of the ARIES for SEEA tool. The adoption of the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting, as an international statistical standard, by the United Nations Statistical Commission at its session in March 2021 generated a lot of interest beyond the statistical community. It has been identified as an important statistical framework to support the monitoring and reporting to several environmental convention including the monitoring framework in support of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which will be adopted at the COP15 in December 2022, as well as other policy frameworks including climate change, land degradation and oceans. The United Nations Secretary-General called the adoption of the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting “a historic step towards transforming the way how we view and value nature. No longer will we allow mindless environmental destruction to be considered as economic progress” and in Our Common agenda, the agenda for action for the UN released in late 2021, he “urged countries to implement the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting.” Artificial Intelligence for Environment & Sustainability (ARIES), developed by researchers at the Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), is an integrated, open-source modelling platform for environmental sustainability, where researchers from across the globe can add their own data and models to web-based repositories. Using ARIES technology, the ARIES for SEEA Explorer application allows users anywhere in the world to produce rapid, standardized, scalable and customizable ecosystem accounts for their area of interest (such as a country, administrative region, or watershed) that are consistent with the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework. ARIES for SEEA is available on the UN Global Platform, a cloud-service platform supporting international collaboration in the development of official statistics using new data sources and innovative methods.
Title in Spanish: Curso de Introducción a la Contabilidad de Ecosistemas del Sistema de Contabilidad Ambiental y Económica para países de América Latina y el Caribe
Organizer(s): ECLAC
Description: La Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) está organizando el curso virtual sobre el Sistema de Contabilidad Ambiental y Económica - Contabilidad de Ecosistemas (SCAE-CE0 [System of Environemntal-Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA)] que se llevará a cabo del 9 al 27 de mayo de 2022. El SCAE-CE es el estándar estadístico internacional para la organización de datos sobre los ecosistemas, la medición de los servicios ecosistémicos, el seguimiento de los cambios en los activos ecosistémicos y la vinculación de esta información con la actividad económica y otras actividades humanas. El marco del SCAE-CE se basa en un enfoque espacial para la organización de la información sobre los ecosistemas. Sirve como apoyo a la compilación de indicadores para varios marcos mundiales, incluyendo la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible y la Agenda Global de Biodiversidad posterior a 2020. El SCAE-CE complementa las cuentas del Marco Central del SCAE (SCAE-MC) y juntos proporcionan un marco completo para organizar los datos sobre la relación entre el medio ambiente y la economía. El curso tiene el objetivo introducir los principales conceptos del marco del SCAE-CE a todos los países de la región de América Latina y el Caribe. Está integrado por dos componentes: asincrónico y sincrónico. El primero se desarrolla como aprendizaje autónomo y, el segundo, con la participación en cuatro webinarios con expertos en contabilidad de ecosistemas que revisarán conceptos y resolverán dudas o comentarios. El curso tendrá una duración aproximada de 20 horas y se conducirá en idioma español con interpretación inglés-español durante los webinarios. El aprendizaje autónomo (asincrónico) comenzará el 9 de mayo y se llevará a cabo a través de la plataforma de aprendizaje de la CEPAL. Después de registrarse los participantes recibirán más información. El curso incluye cuatro webinarios sincrónicos (en directo) entre participantes e instructores para compartir dudas y comentarios sobre las sesiones revisadas en la semana a través de una plataforma telemática reconocida.
Description: On 20 April, FAO's webinar "Implementation of Ecosystem Accounting: results from a set of pilot studies from OECD and developing countries" provided an introduction to the United Nations System of...
Description: The e-Learning course System of Environmental Economic Accounting: Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) will be conducted from 11 April to 10 June 2022. This course has been jointly developed by the UN Statistics Division (UNSD) and UN Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (UNSIAP). The course introduces the SEEA EA, the international statistical standard for organizing data about ecosystems, measuring ecosystem services, tracking changes in ecosystem assets, and linking this information to economic and other human activity. The SEEA EA framework takes a spatial approach to organizing information on ecosystems. It supports the compilation of indicators for several global policy frameworks including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and related SDG indicators and the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Agenda. The SEEA EA complements the accounts compiled in the SEEA Central Framework (SEEA CF) and together, SEEA EA and SEEA CF, provide a comprehensive framework for organizing data on the relationship between the environment and economy. The course is expected to take a maximum of 20 hours over the course of two months from 11 April to 10 June 2022. The course comprises 8 modules covering different topics on ecosystem accounts. Participants are expected to complete the e-learning modules online and also attend weekly scheduled webinars. The weekly webinars will be facilitated by experts and practitioners in ecosystem accounting to provide an overview of the course topics and allow for participants to ask questions.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 24 Feb 2022 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Icon-Institut
Description: To improve the theoretical and practical knowledge related to the collection, transmission, validation and aggregation of official water statistics. The main focus will be on different data sources and the complementarities of different direct and indirect methods such as measurements, surveys, models and estimations. The description of the respective strengths and weaknesses with special attention to data quality should thus result in an enhancement of the comparability between water statistics from countries using different methods. The courses shall also provide a platform and starting point for cooperation in method development among the countries. The aim of the courses is to explore possible ways of avoiding inconsistencies in the European water statistics and to obtain a more effective statistics production.
Target Audience: Staff involved in the production of official water statistics and other quantitative information under Union law on water.
Description: The main objectives of the sixth Forum are to: Share experiences and best practices in applying and compiling ecosystem accounts, in particular in the countries that have participated in the Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services project; Discuss how to operationalize the SEEA EA implementation strategy and the interoperability of data for compilation of accounts; and Discuss opportunities and ways to mainstream the SEEA EA into national and global initiatives.
Description: To contribute to the discussion on how data and statistics can support climate objectives, FAO's Statistics Technical Network is organizing a webinar on FAO’s work on FAOSTAT Emissions statistics.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 03 May 2021 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Icon-Institut
Description: Objectives: * Provide an overview of the key concepts of SEEA ecosystem accounting; * Provide an overview of how national ecosystem accounts are constructed, and how they relate to ‘mainstream’ environmental and national accounting; * Provide understanding the data and tools used to construct the component parts of the accounts (e.g. spatial and environmental data in GIS for ecosystem extent; ecosystem services evidence; monetary valuation techniques).
Target Audience: NSIs and Other National Authorities (with lower priority), working in the field of ecosystem accounting. ESTP Trainings are open to non-ESS members if capacity allows after ESS needs are fulfilled.
Description: FAO launches the FRA 2020 Remote Sensing Survey findings at the COP26 side event "Forest ecosystems trends and innovation: satellite observation, simulations, and fire fighting".
Description: From 22nd to 30th September 2021, FAO will hold webinars in different languages to present the latest progress and acceleration needs to meet SDG target 6.4.
Description: Timely access to water data is key for effective adaptive measures. Three practical examples of how open access remote sensing data can support resilient agricultural systems will be showcased, ranging...
Organizer(s): UNEP UNICEF ECE UNESCO UN Habitat UN Water WHO WMO
Description: This event will present the results of the integrated process of collecting country data on the SDG 6 global indicators in 2020. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss results...
Organizer(s): UNSD UNEP GEO BON Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Description: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) in collaboration with the UN Regional Commissions are organizing a series of webinars to increase the understanding of the monitoring framework of the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), to foster collaboration between national statistical offices, Parties to the CBD and experts in the biological sciences for its operationalization and to discuss the current activities and technical aspects of implementation of the GBF monitoring framework at the global and national level. Currently, the GBF monitoring framework is being developed for adoption at the Convention of Parties of the CBD. This will be a major enhancement in the review mechanism for the Convention as compared to the Aichi Framework in which indicators were not an official component of the framework. Analysis of the failure to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets has identified a number of deficiencies. However, perhaps the most significant failing has been the lack of implementation support and enabling conditions at the national scale, particularly the implementation of data-to-indicator workflows that help streamline the monitoring of the impact of conservation actions in target achievements. Parties to the CBD have struggled, in many cases, to easily and effectively track and guide progress to national targets due to their limited access to user-friendly indicator methodologies and the reliable data needed for these indicators. The current monitoring framework proposal for the GBF addresses some of these challenges by providing guidance so that Parties can easily identify appropriate indicators (i.e. Headline, Component and Detailed Indicators) for the different targets. However, further guidance will be needed for the sustained production, delivery and use of biodiversity indicators. The adoption of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) at the 52nd Session of the UN Statistical Commission in March 2021 marks an important milestone for measuring ecosystem extent, condition and services in physical and monetary terms in a consistent manner. The SEEA EA allows to make the contribution of ecosystems to the economy and well-being explicit and for this reason it represents an historic step forward for measuring the Sustainable Development Goals and moving beyond GDP in tracking global progress. The contribution of the SEEA EA and the statistical community to the post-2020 GBF and mainstreaming biodiversity in the national statistical system have been recognized both by the statistical as well as the biodiversity community. According to the Global Assessment of Environmental Economic Accounting and supporting statistics undertaken by UNSD, 34 countries are implementing the SEEA EA and the demand for support in compiling these accounts is rapidly increasing. An implementation strategy to scale up the implementation of the SEEA EA will be submitted to the Statistical Commission in March 2022. The GEO BON network, comprising over 200 organizations and over 1,700 experts on the delivery of effective biodiversity observations, has advanced in the conceptualization and operationalization of the Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBV), defined as a set of metrics capable of measuring state of species, populations, or ecosystems and used as a common basis for the calculation of indicators measuring biodiversity and ecosystem change. Furthermore, GEO BON has supported the establishment of 25 biodiversity observation networks (BONs) representing national, regional and thematic groups covering marine and terrestrial systems that coordinate biodiversity monitoring and supporting development of EBV, data use and sharing. GEO BON partners have been piloting the development of data to indicator workflows at the national scale (in SE Asia, Tropical Andes, Caribbean, Arctic and sub-Saharan Africa) that produce a repeatable and continuous approach to indicator development that integrates national data holdings with extra-national sources (e.g. remotely sensed data). Considering the development of EBV, BONs and Biodiversity Change indicators endorsed by GEOBON, and recent adoption of the SEEA EA and their relevance to the GBF, this webinar series will bring together relevant stakeholders from the CBD Parties, scientific communities and statistical communities to advance a shared understanding and have an initial discussion on implementing the GBF Monitoring Framework. The high-level regional webinars will be conducted according to the official language or the region. The webinars are scheduled for following date and time. Invited countries, organizations and experts will receive a link for online registration. Registered participants will receive the connection links for the webinars.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 21 Dec 2020 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Icon-Institut
Description: To improve the theoretical and practical knowledge related to the collection, transmission, validation and aggregation of official water statistics. The main focus will be on different data sources and the complementarities of different direct and indirect methods such as measurements, surveys, models and estimations. The description of the respective strengths and weaknesses with special attention to data quality should thus result in an enhancement of the comparability between water statistics from countries using different methods. The courses shall also provide a platform and starting point for cooperation in method development among the countries. The aim of the courses is to explore possible ways of avoiding inconsistencies in the European water statistics and to obtain a more effective statistics production.
Target Audience: Staff involved in the production of official water statistics and other quantitative information under Union law on water. ESTP Trainings are open to non-ESS members if capacity allows after ESS needs are fulfilled.
Description: The FAO Land and Water Division is inviting you to the webinar “Joining efforts to turn satellite water data into actionable information for farmers” organized on 22 April 2021. The webinar will present the 2nd phase of the WaPOR project which started in January 2021. The project is funded for 5 years by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of The Netherlands and follows a first phase which has seen the effective development of the FAO portal on Water Productivity through Open access of Remotely sensed derived data (WaPOR) since 2016.With information freely available for over 10 years, the 2nd phase will answer FAO members’ demand for practical applications at different scales and locally relevant solutions to monitor and effectively improve agricultural land and water productivity.The webinar will reflect on the results of the first phase and present the objectives and focuses proposed for the 2nd phase. WaPOR is already used within and outside FAO for a growing range of applications and domains. Its contribution to the FAO Hand-in-Hand initiative and Multi-Disciplinary Fund will be showcased during this online event, as well as its usefulness for the private sector through existing cooperation.Register to the webinar here >> Agenda (Central European Summer Time - CEST) Co-chairs: H.E. Mr Hans Hoogeveen, FAO Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of The Netherlands Ms Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources, FAOModerator: Ms Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, FAO 10.30 - 10.35 Opening address, H.E. Mr Hans Hoogeveen, FAO Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of The Netherlands10.35 - 10.40 Opening statement, Ms Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, Climate and Natural Resources, FAO10.40 - 10:45 Presentation of the results of WaPOR phase 1 and planning of WaPOR phase 2, Mr Jippe Hoogeveen, Senior Water Officer and WaPOR Chief Technical Adviser, Land and Water Division, FAO10.45 – 10:55 Presentation of the FAO Multi-Disciplinary Fund project on “Strengthening resilience of pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the Sahel through innovative tools and improved data” Mr Badi Besbes, Senior Animal Production Officer, Animal Production and Health Division, FAO10.55 - 11:05 Presentation of the WaPOR contribution to the Hand-in-Hand initiative, Mr Karl Morteo, Information Technology Officer, Information Technology Services Division, FAO11.05 - 11:15 Presentation of the WaPOR cooperation with the private sector for data collection and use of WaPOR data, Ms Annemarie Klaasse, Project Manager, Eleaf11.15 - 11:55 Q&As11.55 - 12.00 Closing remarks by co-chairs
Organizer(s): UNSD ECA UNEP Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa Green Growth Knowledge Platform Conservation International Capitals Coalition
Description: The System of Environmental-Economic Accounts (SEEA) represents a global effort towards the goal of mainstreaming nature into decision-making. The recently adopted SEEA Ecosystem Accounting (EA) is the international statistical standard to measure ecosystems, their status and contribution to the economy. These accounts begin with an “Ecosystem Extent Account”, which maps ecosystems distribution and tracks changes over time. This webinar will demonstrate a low-cost, replicable approach for the identification and mapping of ecosystem extent developed through a partnership between US space agency NASA, Conservation International (CI) and the government of Liberia. The webinar will share results from Liberia, and how these results are supporting planning and decision-making in the country. Last, the webinar will encourage a discussion on how the piloted approach in Liberia can support other countries efforts to develop SEEA-compliant ecosystem extent accounts at the national scale.
Title in Spanish: Seminario web de alto nivel sobre el Sistema de Contabilidad Ambiental-Económica - Contabilidad de Ecosistemas (SEEA-EA) para los países de América Latina
Organizer(s): ECLAC UNSD
Description: El objetivo de este evento es informar a los países de la región sobre el proceso de revisión de la metodología de contabilidad de ecosistemas del SCAE y mostrar los avances y desafíos de las cuentas económicos ambientales en América Latina y el Caribe. Organizado conjuntamente entre la CEPAL y la División de Estadísticas de las Naciones Unidas (DESA).
Organizer(s): UNSD ECA UNEP World Bank Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa Green Growth Knowledge Platform Conservation International Capitals Coalition
Description: On 2 December 2020, Statistics South Africa releases the Land and Terrestrial Ecosystem Accounts, 1990 to 2014, the first publication in its new Natural Capital series. These accounts are a first of their kind for South Africa and have been produced as part of the Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (NCAVES) project, which was launched in 2017 by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) with funding from the European Union (EU). South Africa is one of five countries (along with Brazil, China, India and Mexico) participating in this international project, which aims to advance the global knowledge agenda and initiate testing of SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting. In South Africa, the NCAVES project has been led jointly by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI),in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and a range of national and sub-national stakeholders. This webinar will provide an overview of the approach, methods and results from the Land and Terrestrial Ecosystem Accounts.
Title in Spanish: Webinario sobre Cómo construir y sostener indicadores de biodiversidad
Organizer(s): ECLAC
Description: El propósito de esta actividad es revisar conceptos y fundamentos de para la elaboración de estadísticas e indicadores oficiales de biodiversidad e intercambiar experiencias en el desarrollo de estas métricas por parte de instituciones asociadas de Chile y México.
Introduction to experimental Ecosystem extent and Services Accounting based on SEEA-EEA
28 Sep 2020 – 08 Oct 2020
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 06 Aug 2020 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Sogeti
Description: The objectives of this course are: * Provide an overview of how national ecosystem accounts are constructed, and how they relate to ‘mainstream’ national accounting (e.g. Gross Domestic Product). * Provide understanding the data and tools used to construct the component parts of the accounts (e.g. spatial and environmental data in GIS for ecosystem extent; ecosystem services evidence; monetary valuation techniques).
Target Audience: National statistical bodies, environment departments and other national public environment bodies involved in constructing national ecosystem accounts. ESTP Trainings are open to non-ESS members if capacity allows after ESS needs are fulfilled.
Description: This Technical Expert Forum builds on earlier Forums of Experts organized in 2013, 2015, 2018 and 2019 by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and partners to advance the theory, practice and application of ecosystem accounting, considering the fast-evolving nature of the topic and ever-increasing policy interest. The previous Forums brought together a broad range of expertise and experiences, and have thus contributed to the development of materials to support the advancement of ecosystem accounting and have continued to build the community of experts, policy analysts and decision makers who recognize the potential of ecosystem accounting to support the achievement of positive environmental, economic and social outcomes. As we are approaching the finalization of the SEEA EEA revision, few outstanding technical issues need to be discussed in a set of focused technical discussions. For that reason, in 2020 a Technical Expert Forum is organized, aiming to attract experts in environmental and ecosystem accounting, biodiversity, ecology and environmental economics. The main objectives of the Technical Expert Forum are to: <ul>1. Review progress across the range of research issues that are the focus of the SEEA EEA revision process and provide technical guidance on outstanding issues, accounting treatments and testing of approaches developed; 2. Discuss remaining issues on the research agenda and identify the way forward; and 3. Provide advice on the last research issues where needed.</ul>
Description: The webinar will present the BioTrade/DSIB “Trade and Biodiversity mechanism” being developed. It will focus on presenting the data and the information that can be extracted from it, as well as an introduction to UNCTAD’s statistics platform – UNCTADstat – on which the biodiversity trade data mechanism will be hosted. It is expected that this information will be used by BioTrade partners and other actors for the development of their activities, as well as to provide data on trade and biodiversity that could be an input for reporting in other national and international processes, including those led by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), UNCTAD and the UN system (e.g. national reports on the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and CBD national biodiversity strategies and action plans).
Description: The webinar will present the BioTrade/DSIB “Trade and Biodiversity mechanism” being developed. It will focus on presenting the data and the information that can be extracted from it, as well as an introduction to UNCTAD’s statistics platform – UNCTADstat – on which the biodiversity trade data mechanism will be hosted. It is expected that this information will be used by BioTrade partners and other actors for the development of their activities, as well as to provide data on trade and biodiversity that could be an input for reporting in other national and international processes, including those led by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), UNCTAD and the UN system (e.g. national reports on the progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and CBD national biodiversity strategies and action plans).
Organizer(s): UNSD ECA UNEP World Bank Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa Statistics South Africa
Description: The Regional Training Workshop on the SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting for countries in Africa is jointly organized by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), Statistics South Africa, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Gaborone Declaration for Sustainability in Africa (GDSA), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Training Workshop will be held in Pretoria, South Africa, from 28 to 31 October 2019, and is organized as part of the project “Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services” funded by the European Union, and implemented by UNSD, UNEP and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Description: Download group photo. The Workshop on the Sustainable Development Goal indicators on water-use efficiency and water stress for the countries of Central Asia is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in collaboration with the Russian Federation Federal State Statistics Service and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The workshop was held at the Grand Hotel Tien-Shan, Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 8-10 October 2019. The workshop is part of the project Strengthening research and studies for improved quality of SDG statistics in Central Asia, funded by the Russian Federation, which aims to strengthen the capacity of the countries of Central Asia to produce data for priority SDG indicators through the development of training material, including in the Russian language, and the subsequent design and delivery of training courses through face-to-face and/or e-learning modalities. The aim of the workshop was to meet the training needs with respect to the indicators of target 6.4 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity”, namely 6.4.1 Change in water use efficiency over time and 6.4.2 Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources. ___________ Семинар по показателям Целей в области Устойчивого Развития по эффективности водопользования и водному стрессу для стран Центральной Азии организован Экономической и Социальной Комиссией ООН для Азии и Тихого океана (ЭСКАТО) в сотрудничестве с Федеральной Службой Государственной Статистики Российской Федерации (Росстат) и Продовольственной и Сельскохозяйственной Организацией Объединенных Наций. Семинар состоится 8-10 октября 2019 года в Гранд Отеле Тянь-Шань, Алматы, Казахстан. Семинар является частью проекта «Укрепление научных исследований для улучшения качества статистики ЦУР в Центральной Азии», финансируемого Российской Федерацией, который направлен на укрепление потенциала стран Центральной Азии для сбора данных по приоритетным показателям ЦУР посредством подготовки учебных материалов, в том числе на русском языке, и последующей разработки и проведения учебных курсов очного обучения и / или с помощью электронных средств обучения. Целью семинара является удовлетворение потребностей в обучении в отношении показателей задачи 6.4 Повестки дня в области Устойчивого Развития на период до 2030 года «К 2030г. значительно повысить эффективность водопользования во всех секторах и обеспечить сбалансированный забор пресной воды и ее пополнение для решения проблемы нехватки воды и существенного сокращения числа страдающих от этого людей.», а именно 6.4.1 Динамика изменения эффективности водопользования и 6.4.2 Уровень водного стресса: забор пресной воды в процентном отношении к имеющимся запасам пресной воды.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 03 Jun 2019 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Sogeti
Description: Objectives of the course: (a) provide an overview of how national ecosystem accounts are constructed, and how they relate to ‘mainstream’ national accounting (e.g. Gross Domestic Product); (b) provide understanding the data and tools used to construct the component parts of the accounts (e.g. spatial and environmental data in GIS for ecosystem extent; ecosystem services evidence; monetary valuation techniques).
Target Audience: National statistical bodies, environment departments and other national public environment bodies involved in constructing national ecosystem accounts. ESTP Trainings are open to non-ESS members if capacity allows after ESS needs are fulfilled.
Description: The Forum of Experts on SEEA Experimental Ecosystem Accounting 2019 will be held on 26 and 27 June 2019 in Glen Cove, New York. The Forum is organized by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment), the World Bank, and the European Union through the project 'Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services.' Participants will include statisticians, researchers and experts in the area of ecosystem accounting, ecosystem modelling, spatial analysis of ecosystem services, and environmental and ecological economics, as well as earth observation specialists. Representatives of the project partner countries, namely Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, and other countries having experience in the compilation of ecosystem accounting would also be in attendance.
Source: Eurostat (Data extracted on: 03 Jun 2019 )
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Organizer(s): Eurostat Sogeti
Description: The course will provide participants with theoretical and practical training on the compilation of Air Emissions Accounts. Focus is given on the data submission via Eurostat's electronic questionnaires.
Target Audience: 1. Statisticians of environmental statistics or environmental accounts departments involved in compiling data on air emissions accounts (AEA); 2. Specialists in environmental accounts who need to improve their knowledge in AEA; 3. Managers with responsibility on AEA. ESTP Trainings are open to non-ESS members if capacity allows after ESS needs are fulfilled.
Description: Following the decision of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) at its 48th session, the revision of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012–Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EEA) is underway. The SEEA EEA was endorsed by the UNSC at its 44th session in March 2013 as an important step in the development of a statistical framework for ecosystem accounting. The SEEA EEA offers a synthesis of the current knowledge in ecosystem accounting and serves as a platform for its development at national and sub-national levels. The aim of the revision process is to build on existing knowledge and experience to develop agreed methodologies on measuring ecosystem extent, ecosystem condition, ecosystem services and valuation of ecosystem assets and services. As a part of the revision process, it has been agreed to focus on a number of selected ecosystem services and use a bottom-up approach to work towards agreed definitions and treatment of ecosystem services in an ecosystem accounting context. As such, ten key ecosystem services were identified, for which discussion papers were drafted outlining their definition(s), biophysical measurement methods and valuation with respect to accounting. This expert meeting will provide the opportunity for invited experts and representatives from project countries to consider the measurement of ecosystem services in depth and determine an appropriate research agenda that could be informed by or further tested in the project countries and elsewhere in order to advance towards common approaches for ecosystem accounting.
