Environment Statistics

The Pilot Survey was launched on 23 February 2020 with a main objective to test and assess the relevance, soundness and measurability of the proposed indicators by inviting: (1) the NSOs and/or ministries of environment from 42 countries to assess their preparedness to compile the suggested indicators in collaboration with relevant partners according to their national priorities as well as the development stage of the country; and (2) thirty international/regional organizations to assess the indicators from a thematic and methodological point of view to ensure that the selected indicators are relevant, correctly named, and supported by definitions, references and data.

Pilot survey outcomes: thirteen key international/regional organizations responded with thematic validation on most of the proposed statistics and indicators. Seventeen countries responded, including seven developed countries, out of which three (who could consult stakeholders prior to lock-down) assessed all the proposed indicators. Of the ten developing countries that responded, one assessed all indicators, seven completed the survey partially, while another two only provided references to data available at the NSO. In addition, another 12 developing countries (including four least developed and four Small Island Developing States) initiated the survey but could not complete it primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

UNSD set up a small group of (developing) countries that were faced with the most challenges due to the pandemic as well as with the completion of the survey in general, along with the former Chair of the EGES, to examine in detail the structure of the draft Global Set and provide inputs towards a product for the planned Global Consultation to be conducted in early 2021. The group held several virtual meetings between May and September, and discussed a structure linking the proposed indicators and underlying basic statistics, accompanied by short metadata, which should satisfy the needs of both developed and developing countries. The group also provided feedback and advice to UNSD to better understand the needs of the least developed and developing countries in particular and the way NSOs interact with their national counterparts.

Summary of feedback and observations:
The Pilot Survey demonstrated several points described below:
a) most of the proposed indicators were considered applicable, although some need further methodological work;
b) for several indicators the relevance to climate change was not clear;
c) several new indicators were suggested;
d) the links to IPCC and to the ECE core set of indicators were appreciated;
e) several of the originally proposed indicators were considered to be overlapping;
f) there was a need to reduce the number of indicators;
g) there was a need to clarify the difference between statistics and indicators;
h) some of the proposed indicators needed to be simplified as they were considered too complex or requiring modelling in their present form;
i) references to the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) were encouraged where applicable;
j) data availability was mentioned as a concern for some indicators, especially in the area of adaptation; and
k) several indicators were considered to be outside the mandate of the NSO/national statistical system.