73 Components of the FDES and the Basic Set of Environment Statistics 73 Subcomponent 3.4: Release of Chemical Substances Topic 3.4.1: Release of chemical substances 3.189. This topic deals with chemical fertilizers to enrich soils and pesticide use in protecting plants and animals from disease. Other chemicals accelerate the growth of biota and preserve and enhance the quality, size and appearance of biological products. Environmental effects are generated by the diffusion of chemicals through cycling systems and build-up of contaminants in water, land and living organisms (through the food chain). Statistics under this topic include the amount of natural and chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals (hormones and pellets) used by type of active ingredients (see also Subcomponent 2.5: Biological Resources), the area under application and the method employed. These statistics serve as a proxy or the basis for estimating the chemicals that remain in the environment and affect environmental quality. 3.190. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of POPs. POPs are a group of chemicals possessing the fol lowing characteristics: they are highly toxic to humans and wildlife (harmfulness), they can last for many years in the environment before degrading into less dangerous forms (persistence), they bio-accumulate in the food chain (bio-accumulation), and they are transported over large distances through air and water and can be found worldwide (long-range transport).66 The Stockholm Convention identified an initial 12 chemicals or chemical groups for priority action, including aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, mirex, toxaphene, PCBs, polychlorinated dioxins and polychlorinated furans. Additional substances were added in 2009. For additional information, see Annex C: Multilateral Environmental Agreements. Table 3.3.4.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 3.4.1 Component 3: Residuals Subcomponent 3.4: Release of Chemical Substances Topic 3.4.1: Release of chemical substances Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text— Tier 3) a. Total amount of fertilizers used •• National •• Subnational •• By ISIC economic activity (forestry, agriculture) •• By type of fertilizer •• By type of pesticide •• FAOSTAT database •• Stockholm Convention
- Natural fertilizers (also in 2.5.1.b and 2.5.3.b) Area, mass, volume
- Chemical fertilizers (also in 2.5.1.b and 2.5.3.b)
Area, mass, volume
b.
Total amount of pesticides used (also in 2.5.1.b and 2.5.3.b)
Area, mass, volume
c.
Total amount of pellets used (also in 2.5.2.e)
Mass, volume
•• National
•• Subnational
•• By ISIC economic activity (aquaculture)
•• Stockholm Convention
d.
Total amount of hormones used (also in 2.5.2.e and 2.5.4.b)
Mass, volume
•• National
•• Subnational
•• By ISIC economic activity (aquaculture,
livestock production)
e.
Total amount of colourants used (also in 2.5.2.e)
Mass, volume
•• National
•• Subnational
•• By ISIC economic activity (aquaculture)
f.
Total amount of antibiotics used (also in 2.5.2.e and 2.5.4.b)
Mass, volume
•• National
•• Subnational
•• By ISIC economic activity (aquaculture,
livestock production)
66 United Nations Environment
Programme. “Persistent Organic
Pollutants”, available from
http://drustage.unep.org /chemicalsandwaste/what-we -do/science-and-risk/persistent -organic-pollutants-pops/ (accessed 4 August 2017).
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013)
74
3.4. Component 4: Extreme Events and Disasters
3.191. This component organizes statistics on the occurrence of extreme events and disasters
and their impacts on human well-being and the infrastructure of the human subsystem.
3.192. The most common data providers are national and subnational authorities responsi
ble for disaster management and assistance, emergency management and response agencies,
insurance companies, optical and radar satellite operators for satellite information, and seismic
monitoring and research centres.
3.193. Component 4 contains the following two subcomponents:
i. Subcomponent 4.1: Natural Extreme Events and Disasters; and
ii. Subcomponent 4.2: Technological Disasters.
Subcomponent 4.1:
Natural Extreme Events and Disasters
3.194. This subcomponent organizes statistics on the frequency and intensity of extreme
events and disasters deriving from natural phenomena, as well as their impact on human lives
and habitats and the environment as a whole. Statistics on natural extreme events and disasters
are important to policymakers, analysts and civil society not only to assess the impact of an
ongoing disaster, but also to monitor the frequency, intensity and impact of disasters over time.
3.195. An extreme event is one that is rare within its statistical reference distribution at a
particular location. An extreme event is normally as rare as or rarer than the 10th or 90th
percentile. A disaster is often described as a result of exposure to an extreme event. The Centre
for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) defines a disaster as an “unforeseen
and often sudden event that causes great damage, destruction and human suffering.” 67 It often
exceeds local response capacities and requires external assistance at the national or interna
tional level. For inclusion in this subcomponent, a disaster should be categorized using the
same criteria as the CRED Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT). It must thus meet at least
one of the following criteria:
i. Ten (10) or more people reported killed;
ii. One hundred (100) or more people reported affected;
iii. Declaration of a state of emergency; or
iv. Call for international assistance.
For more information on the full classification of CRED, see Annex D: Classifications and
environment statistics.
3.196. Natural extreme events and disasters impact human lives, habitats and ecosystems in
ways depending on their intensity, the extent to which the human habitat is prepared and the
environmental conditions prevailing in the territories, particularly those where humans live.
Thus, the general social, living and infrastructural conditions of a given human habitat can
worsen or mitigate the impacts and effects of natural disasters.
3.197. In recent decades, increased extreme events have led to more frequent, more intense
and more destructive and deadly natural disasters. Climate change has been associated with the
increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events. It has resulted in increased global
temperatures, rising sea levels, increased storms and precipitation, droughts, floods, tropical
cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes and other climatic disruptions in many places around the
world. As the occurrence and intensity of natural extreme events and disasters have increased
globally, countries have faced greater social and economic impacts.
67 Centre for Research on the
Epidemiology of Disasters
EM-DAT (2009). “Emergency
Events Database”, available from
www.emdat.be (accessed
4 August 2017).
75 Components of the FDES and the Basic Set of Environment Statistics 75 3.198. The statistics organized under this component will take into account the entire sequence associated with both the occurrence and impact of each individual event, including type, sta tistics on the disaster’s impact, including people affected and the assessment of economic loss. Statistics relating to the indirect health problems associated with natural disasters is covered in Subcomponent 5.2: Environmental Health. Statistics related to disaster preparedness can be found under Topic 6.3.1: Preparedness for Natural Extreme Events and Disasters. Topic 4.1.1: Occurrence of natural extreme events and disasters 3.199. The types of statistics included in this topic may be, but are not limited to, the type of natural disaster, location, magnitude, date of occurrence and duration. Table 3.4.1.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 4.1.1 Component 4: Extreme Events and Disasters Subcomponent 4.1: Natural Extreme Events and Disasters Topic 4.1.1: Occurrence of natural extreme events and disasters Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text—Tier 3) a. Occurrence of natural extreme events and disasters •• By event •• National •• Subnational •• Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters Emergency Events Database (CRED EM-DAT) •• UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) Handbook for Estimating the Socio-economic and Environmental Effects of Disasters •• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
- Type of natural extreme event and disaster (geophysical, meteorological, hydrological, climatological, biological) Description
- Location Location
- Magnitude (where applicable) Intensity
- Date of occurrence Date
- Duration
Time period
Topic 4.1.2:
Impact of natural extreme events and disasters
3.200. This topic should include information on the impact of a natural extreme event or dis
aster. Impact can be measured in a number of ways. Common dimensions include the number
of people killed, injured, homeless and affected, as well as economic loss. Economic loss may
refer to damage to buildings and other economic assets, number of transportation networks
affected, economic disruption or loss of revenue to commercial services, and utility disrup
tion. Physical loss or damage refers to the magnitude of the impact of the event or disaster
on the quantity and quality of land, crops, livestock, aquaculture and biomass. The specific
impact of each natural disaster on the integrity of the local ecosystem may also be reported
on, where statistics exist. In addition, the external assistance received for disaster relief may
also be measured.
3.201. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
(UNECLAC) has developed a handbook, Handbook for Estimating the Socio-economic and
Environmental Effects of Disasters,68 which may be useful to other countries and regions.
It evaluates the overall impact of disasters associated with natural events and includes a
methodology for evaluating it. This analysis of disaster impact in terms of damage and losses
makes it possible to estimate the impact of disasters on economic growth, the population’s
living conditions and environmental conditions in the region.
3.202. UNECLAC published the third edition of the Handbook for Disaster Assessment 69 in
February 2014. This edition strengthens the methodology for estimating both the effects and
the impacts of disasters, improving its consistency by clearly differentiating concepts of losses
and additional costs. It also systematizes the linkages among different economic sectors. The
document also addresses cross-cutting themes such as gender and the environment.
68 United Nations Economic
Commission for Latin America
and the Caribbean (2003).
Handbook for Estimating
the Socio-economic and
Environmental Effects of Disasters.
LC/MEX/G.5 UNECLAC Mexico
Office, available from
www.cepal.org /es/publicaciones/5502-guia- metodologica-desarrollar- indicadores-ambientales -desarrollo-sostenible (accessed 4 August 2017). 69 United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (2014). Handbook for Disaster Assessment. LC/L.3691, available from www.cepal.org /cgi-bin/getProd.asp?xml= /publicaciones/xml/4/52674 /P52674.xml&xsl =/publicaciones/ficha .xsl&base=/publicaciones /top_publicaciones.xsl (accessed 4 August 2017).
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 76 Table 3.4.1.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 4.1.2 Component 4: Extreme Events and Disasters Subcomponent 4.1: Natural Extreme Events and Disasters Topic 4.1.2: Impact of natural extreme events and disasters Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text—Tier 3) a. People affected by natural extreme events and disasters •• By event •• National •• Subnational •• Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters Emergency Events Database (CRED EM-DAT) •• UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC) Handbook for Estimating the Socio-economic and Environ mental Effects of Disasters •• The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
- Number of people killed Number
- Number of people injured Number
- Number of people homeless Number
- Number of people affected Number b. Economic losses due to natural extreme events and disasters (e.g., damage to buildings, transportation net works, loss of revenue for businesses, utility disruption) Currency •• By event •• By ISIC economic activity •• National •• Subnational •• By direct and indirect damage c. Physical losses/damages due to natural extreme events and disasters (e.g., area and amount of crops, livestock, aquaculture, biomass) Area, description, number d. Effects of natural extreme events and disasters on integrity of ecosystems •• By event •• By ecosystem •• National •• Subnational
- Area affected by natural disasters Area
- Loss of vegetation cover Area
- Area of watershed affected Area
- Other Description e. External assistance received Currency •• By event •• National Subcomponent 4.2: Technological Disasters 3.203. This subcomponent organizes statistics on technological disasters. These disasters may arise as a result of human intent, negligence or error, or faulty or failed technological applica tions. This subcomponent groups information on the occurrence and impact of such disasters on human lives, habitats, the environment, and on disaster preparedness for such types of disasters. 3.204. Policymakers, analysts and civil society require statistics on technological disasters to understand who is ultimately responsible and what the immediate and potential impact may be, and to assess and mitigate future risks. To date, records of global technological disasters show increasing frequency and impact on humans, the infrastructure and the environment. This further reinforces the relevance and necessity of statistics on these issues for policymak ing and analysis. 3.205. CRED recognizes three types of technological disasters.70 These are industrial accidents, which cover accidents associated with chemical spill, collapse, explosion, fire, gas leak, poison ing, radiation and other; transport accidents, which cover accidents associated with air, road, rail, and water; and miscellaneous accidents, which cover accidents associated with collapse, explosion, fire and other disasters of varied origin. All these types of disasters can impact large areas and affect both human safety and the environment in both the short and long term. Topic 4.2.1: Occurrence of technological disasters 3.206. This topic organizes information on the frequency and nature of disasters that arise as a result of human intent, negligence or error, or from faulty or failed technological applications. Nuclear meltdowns and pipeline or tanker leaks that result in significant harm to the environ ment, including potentially significant consequent impacts on humans, are prime examples. 70 Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters EM-DAT. “Classification”, available from www.emdat.be /classification (accessed 4 August 2017).