UN Framework for the Development of

Environment Statistics (FDES)

Why shape does matterAdriana Oropeza

IV

Be careful how youinterpret the world

… it is like that

Erich Heller British philosopher

Why we need a framework?

Mexico’s environmental profile CIA Factbook

Source. CIA Factbook. September 1, 2012

What is the FDES?

Assist Development Coordination Organization

Conceptual framework Objective

Components of theenvironment

Information categoriesSocial and economic

activities, natural eventsEnvironmental

impacts of activities/ events

Responses to environmental

impacts

Inventories, stocks and background

conditions

1. Flora

2. Fauna

3. Atmosphere

4. Water(a) Freshwater(b) Marine water

5. Land/soil(a) surface(b) sub-surface

6. Human settlements

Components of theenvironment

Information categoriesSocial and economic

activities, natural eventsEnvironmental

impacts of activities/ events

Responses to environmental

impacts

Inventories, stocks and background

conditions

1. Flora

2. Fauna

3. Atmosphere

4. Water(a) Freshwater(b) Marine water

5. Land/soil(a) surface(b) sub-surface

6. Human settlements

What changed from 1984?

Sustainable development

Ecosystem services

Climate change

The Revision. 2010 -2012

The Expert Group… met 3 times in New York:

November 2010: Concepts, principles and underlying theory. May 2011: the outline of the new FDES: 6 components. November 2011: 3 draft chapters discussed, revised and

sub-group for core-set (chapter 4) established.

The revised FDES’s purpose

To serve as a reference and guide for the development of environment statistics at the national, regional and international levels.

The framework's objective is to characterize and organize the statistics about the environment and its natural resources, as well as the mutual interaction among natural processes and human activities.

This framework aims to be a roadmap in the development, production and dissemination of environmental information. It can be linked to other information frameworks such as the System of Economic and Environmental Accounts, DPSIR or the Spatial Data Infrastructure, the International Energy Agency or the Food and Agriculture Organization, as well as other sustainable developments initiatives such as the Millennium Development Goals or the Green Growth Strategies.

It also provides the information necessary to support decision making, taking full account of the end-user’s perspective. In this case, the end user is a policy maker relying on environmental information to make a decision.

FDES: Conceptual foundation

Changes over time

Impacts from the Changing EnvironmentEnvironmental

Conditions t1

Nat

ural

Pro

cess

es

Human Activities

Environmental Conditions t0 Human

Sub-system

Changes over time

Impacts from the Changing EnvironmentEnvironmental

Conditions t1

Nat

ural

Pro

cess

es

Human Activities

Environmental Conditions t0 Human

Sub-system

FDES: Six components

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

Source. UNSD. 2012. 43rd session of the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC)

1. Environmental Conditions and Quality

1.1: Physical Conditions

1.1.1: Atmosphere, climate and weather

1.1.2: Hydrological systems

1.1.3: Geological and geographic information

1.2: Soil and Land Cover

1.2.1: Soil characteristics

1.2.2: Land cover

1.3: Biodiversity and Ecosystems

1.3.1: Biodiversity

1.3.2: Ecosystems

1.4: Environmental Quality

1.4.1: Air quality

1.4.2: Freshwater quality

1.4.3: Marine water quality

1.4.4: Soil quality

1.4.5: Noise

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

2. Environmental Resources and their Use

2.1: Mineral and Energy Resources

2.1.1: Stocks and changes of mineral and energy resources

2.1.2: Extraction of mineral and energy resources and related activities

2.2: Land

2.2.1: Land use

2.2.2: Land use changes

2.3: Soil Resources

2.3.1: Soil resources

2.4: Biological Resources

2.4.1: Timber resources and their use

2.4.2: Aquatic resources and their use

2.4.3: Other biological resources and their use

2.5: Water Resources

2.5.1: Water resources

2.5.2: Abstraction, use and returns of water

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

3. Emissions, Residuals and Wastes

3.1: Emissions to Air

3.1.1: Emissions to air

3.2: Generation, Management and Discharge of Wastewater

3.2.1: Generation and pollutant content of wastewater

3.2.2: Collection and treatment of wastewater

3.2.3: Discharge of wastewater to the environment

3.3: Generation and Management of Solid Waste

3.3.1: Generation of solid waste

3.3.2: Management of solid waste

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

4. Disasters and Extreme Events

4.1: Natural Disasters and Extreme Events

4.1.1: Occurrence of natural disasters and extreme events

4.1.2: Impact of natural disasters and extreme events

4.2: Anthropogenic/technological Disasters

4.2.1: Occurrence of anthropogenic/technological disasters

4.2.2: Impact of anthropogenic/technological disasters

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

5. Human Habitat and Environmental Health

5.1: Human Habitat

5.1.1: Urban and rural population

5.1.2: Water and sanitation

5.1.3: Housing conditions

5.1.4: Exposure to ambient pollutants related to spatial location of population

5.1.5: Other urban habitat concerns

5.2: Environmental Health

5.2.1: Airborne diseases and conditions

5.2.2: Water-related diseases and conditions

5.2.3: Vector borne diseases

5.2.4: Health problems associated with excessive UV radiation exposure

5.2.5: Toxic substance related diseases and conditions

5.2.6: Nuclear radiation related diseases and conditions

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

6. Environment Protection, Management and Engagement

6.1: Environment Protection and Management Expenditure

6.1.1: Government environment protection and management expenditure

6.1.2: Corporate, non-profit institution and household environment protection and management expenditure

6.2: Environmental Governance, Regulation and Engagement

6.2.1: Institutional strength

6.2.2: Environmental regulation and instruments

6.2.3: Participation in MEAs and environmental conventions

6.3: Disaster Preparedness

6.3.1: Disaster preparedness for natural disasters and extreme events

6.3.2: Disaster preparedness for anthropogenic/technological disasters

6.4: Environmental Information, Education and Perception

6.4.1: Environmental information

6.4.2: Environmental education and awareness

6.4.3: Environmental perception

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

2. Environmental Resources and

their Use

3. Emissions,

Residuals and Waste

4. Disasters and

Extreme Events

6. Environment Protection,

Management and Engagement

5. Human Habitat

and Environmental

Health

1.Environmental Conditions and

Quality

FDES and other frameworks and systems

. Indicators*

.

Note: Size of figures does not correlate to volume of data, statistics, indicators, etc.DPSIR = Driving forces-Pressures-State-Impacts-ResponsesSEEA = System of Environmental-Economic Accounting SNA = System of National Accounts*Economic and/or social statistics may also be needed

Analytical & monitoring frameworks

(DPSIR, MDG, thematic or issue-based)

Accounting systems (SEEA)

.

SNA

Environment statistics (FDES)

Environmental data (statistical and non-statistical)

Core set of environment statistics

The Core Set proposes a minimum set of relevant and useful environment statistics that can be used for analysis and reporting on the environment.

Should include a limited number of statistics, all of which are globally relevant; and

Should include statistics not indicators. Does not constitute an exhaustive collection of

environment statistics. Gives guidance for prioritizing data collection for

environment statistics and has been designed to be methodologically sound and easily understood.

Each country can and should complement the Core Set with environment statistics according to its own circumstances as well as policy and reporting needs.

20

The Expert Group agreed on criteria for selection: The Core Set should be based on the UNSD List of

Environmental Indicators (adopted by the UNSC in 1995) and on assessment of international data collections, major global/regional indicator initiatives;

A core statistic should be one that is either important in its own right or one that is needed for the derivation of a multitude of indicators;

The selection of statistics should consider pertinent data needs created by global environmental conventions and MEAs; and

The key criteria for the selection of the Core Set should be policy relevance, measurability and methodological soundness.

Component 1: Environmental Conditions and Processes Sub-component 1.1: Physical Conditions Topic 1.1.1: Atmosphere, climate and weather

a. Temperature 1. Annual averages 2. Long-term annual averages 3. Monthly averages, last year’s minimum and maximum

b. Humidity 1. Annual averages 2. Long-term annual averages

c. Pressure 1. Annual averages 2. Long-term annual averages

d. Precipitation 1. Annual averages 2. Long-term annual averages 3. Monthly averages, last year’s minimum and maximum

e. Wind speed 1. Annual averages 2. Long-term annual averages 3. Monthly averages, last year’s minimum and maximum

f. Solar radiation 1. Annual averages 2. Long-term annual averages 3. Monthly averages, last year’s minimum and maximum

g. UV radiation 1. Annual averages 2. Long-term annual averages 3. Monthly averages, last year’s minimum and maximum 4. Last year’s monthly maximums, per spatial zone

h. Where appropriate, include El niño, La niña events

Component 3: Emissions, Residuals and Waste Sub-component 3.2: Generation, Management and Discharge of Wastewater, and Emissions to Water Topic 3.2.1: Generation of wastewater

a. Wastewater collected/transported from sources 1. Volume of wastewater collected 2. Population connected to wastewater treatment 3. Population not connected to wastewater collection and/or treatment

b. Wastewater generation and transportation by economic activity 1. Population/households connected to individual wastewater collecting

system

Topic 3.2.2: Collection and treatment of wastewater

c. Wastewater treated 1. Total volume of wastewater treated

d. Urban wastewater total treatment capacity 1. Number of plants 2. Capacity of plants

e. Total volume of wastewater treated by type of treatment

Topic 3.2.3: Discharge of wastewater to the environment

f. Wastewater discharge 1. Total volume of wastewater discharged to the environment

g. Volume of wastewater disposed of by recipient (surface water, groundwater, wetland, sea, soil)

h. Discharge of wastewater to the environment, by type of treatment (primary, secondary, tertiary)

Topic 3.2.4: Emissions to water

i. Wastewater quality, volume of pollutants in wastewater to be discharged:

1. BOD5 emissions to water 2. COD emissions to water 3. N emissions to water 4. P emissions to water

Component 4: Environmental Impact Sub-component 4.1: Natural Disasters and Extreme Events Topic 4.1.1: Occurrence of natural disasters and extreme events

a. Occurrence of natural disasters and extreme events: 1. Type of natural disaster 2. Location 3. Magnitude

Topic 4.1.2: Impact of natural disasters and extreme events

b. People affected by natural disaster and extreme events: 1. Number of people killed 2. Number of people injured 3. Number of people homeless 4. Number of people affected 5. Total affected

c. Economic loss due to natural disasters and extreme events d. Effects of disasters and extreme events on integrity of ecosystem

1. Area affected by natural disasters 2. Loss of vegetation cover 3. Effect on watershed area 4. Other

e. External assistance received

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/environment/fdes/fdes_egm.htm

Core set, current state