95 Components of the FDES and the Basic Set of Environment Statistics 95 Quantitative environmental information is generally produced in the form of data, statistics and indicators, and is generally disseminated through databases, spreadsheets, compendiums and yearbooks. Qualitative environmental information consists of descriptions (e.g., textual or pictorial) of the environment or its constituent parts that cannot be adequately represented by accurate quantitative descriptors. Geographically referenced environmental information provides facts on the environment and its components using digital maps, satellite imagery and other sources linked to a location or map feature. 3.289. This topic may include information on the characterization of (i) national environmen tal information systems (e.g., existence of publicly accessible systems and number of users) and (ii) environment statistics programmes within national statistical systems (e.g., description of programme, number and type of environment statistics products, inter-agency platforms or committees). 3.290. The production and dissemination of environment statistics within national statisti cal systems makes it possible to produce robust environmental and sustainable development indicators to substantiate reports on the changing environment and guide policymaking. Measuring and constructing statistics on information production and dissemination is not very difficult once a methodology is established and the information is updated on a com parable basis. Determining which institution is responsible for producing which types of information can be helpful in identifying information gaps, areas of overlapping responsibil ity or efforts, and areas where efficiency gains can be achieved. Information on the structure and details of environment statistics programmes within NSOs (including their mandates, resources and dedicated staff), the existence of other relevant production in other ministries (e.g., environment), and the existence of inter-agency platforms of environmental statistics and indicators at the national level, have been subject to greater examination and reporting. These efforts have formed part of global and regional efforts to strengthen this emerging field within NSOs and have been applicable at both the national and subnational levels. The role of NSOs should also be placed in the broader context of institutions that produce envi ronmental information. 3.291. The main institutional partners here include the environmental authority and the NSO, along with other institutions that may produce databases containing environmental informa tion and reports containing environmental statistics and indicators. Information to be pro duced on this topic is primarily descriptive but may also include quantitative data on budgets. It is usually compiled at the national level. Table 3.6.4.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.4.1 Component 6: Environmental Protection, Management and Engagement Subcomponent 6.4: Environmental Information and Awareness Topic 6.4.1: Environmental information 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. Environmental information systems •• National •• Subnational
- Existence of publicly accessible environmental information system Description
- Annual number of visits/users of specific environmental information programmes or environmental information systems Number b. Environment statistics
- Description of national environment statistics programmes (e.g., existence, year of estab lishment, lead agency, human and financial resources) Description
- Number and type of environment statistics products and periodicity of updates Description, number
- Existence and number of participant institutions in inter-agency environment statistics platforms or committees Number
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 96 Topic 6.4.2: Environmental education 3.292. Environmental education refers to the process of sharing and constructing environ mental information and knowledge, as well as information on how humans interact with the environment. Environmental education is carried out through a variety of programmes, including formal and informal education and training, directed towards different audiences. It may be curriculum- and classroom-based or experiential, and may be provided on-site or in community settings by government agencies or NGOs. Environmental education is integral to education for sustainable development. 3.293. This topic may include but is not limited to the characterization of environmental edu cation programmes, the specific actions associated with them and their results, in terms of the number of people participating in such programmes. 3.294. Statistics on environmental education may include the allocation of resources for edu cation, the number and description of education programmes in schools and the number of students pursuing environment-related higher education. 3.295. The main institutional partners include the ministry of education, ministry of envi ronment or equivalent institution, and the NSO. They also include other institutions, such as universities and non-profit institutions that develop and deliver environmental education curricula. The information to be produced for this topic comes primarily from administrative records and is usually qualitative in nature, but may also include monetary data on resources spent. It is usually compiled at the national and subnational levels. Table 3.6.4.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.4.2 Component 6: Environmental Protection, Management and Engagement Subcomponent 6.4: Environmental Information and Awareness Topic 6.4.2: Environmental education 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. Environmental education •• National •• Subnational
- Allocation of resources by central and local authorities for environmental education Currency
- Number and description of environmental education programmes in schools Description, number
- Number of students pursuing environment-related higher education (e.g., science, management, education, engineering) Number Topic 6.4.3: Environmental perception and awareness 3.296. Environmental perception refers to individuals’ and groups’ notions of, attitudes towards and evaluations of the environment, both as a whole or with respect to specific envi ronmental issues. Individuals and communities make decisions and judgments, and take actions based on subjective perceptions of environmental information and experiences. Values and attitudes thus “filter” information and transform it into perception in a culturally spe cific manner. Environmental awareness involves the gradual understanding of environmental issues, and the recognition of the connections among human actions, development, sustain ability and human responsibility in these processes. Environmental awareness involves the realization that humans and ecosystems co-exist in a shared environment, which is ultimately the biosphere. Awareness fosters pro-environmental attitudes and predispositions for action and changed behaviour. 3.297. This topic includes the perceptions and awareness of the environment on the part of the general public or a specific group through the measurement of knowledge, attitudes, values
97 Components of the FDES and the Basic Set of Environment Statistics 97 and actions. It also encompasses perceptions of governments’ environmental policies to address pressing environmental concerns. Countries and international polling firms have increased their public opinion polling to measure such information across society. 3.298. Knowledge about environmental issues influences attitudes, which determine the extent to which people are predisposed to participate in pro-environmental activities. Attitudes are also formed based on the individual’s or community’s underlying values, thus developing general awareness about environmental concerns. 3.299. The main institutional partners include the environmental authority and the NSO, along with other institutions that may conduct surveys of environmental perceptions (e.g., local governments or polling firms). These statistics are produced through surveys designed for data collection on this topic. Statistics that fall under this topic are primarily qualitative and are compiled at both the subnational and national levels. Table 3.6.4.3 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.4.3 Component 6: Environmental Protection, Management and Engagement Subcomponent 6.4: Environmental Information and Awareness Topic 6.4.3: Environmental perception and awareness 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. Public environmental perception and awareness •• National •• Subnational
- Knowledge and attitudes about environmental issues or concerns Description
- Knowledge and attitudes about environmental policies Description Topic 6.4.4: Environmental engagement 3.300. Environmental engagement involves the transformation of perceptions and attitudes into concrete, pro-environmental actions. Individual and social participation and engagement in environmental processes intended to improve and protect the local and global environment are a concrete manifestation of understanding and motivation of, and commitment to protect ing and improving the environment, expressed through behaviour. 3.301. This topic is intended to capture any available statistics on a country’s pro- environmental activities and programmes. Pro-environmental activities are those undertaken by civil society or community groups to protect, improve and manage the environment. This topic also includes information about environmental programmes (e.g., conservation, energy efficiency, tree planting) and outreach programmes (e.g., efforts to increase public awareness of key environmental issues). 3.302. Statistics may include the number and capacity of pro-environmental NGOs, such as the number of institutions and amount of financial and human resources. This information is usually available. They may also include the number of pro-environmental activities and pro- environmental programmes. 3.303. Data about environmental participation and actions are based on administrative records or are obtained from surveys, and are usually produced at the subnational level. The main institutional partners include the ministry of environment or equivalent institution, municipalities and local governments and NGOs.
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 98 Table 3.6.4.4 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.4.4 Component 6: Environmental Protection, Management and Engagement Subcomponent 6.4: Environmental Information and Awareness Topic 6.4.4: Environmental engagement 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. Environmental engagement •• National •• Subnational
- Existence of pro-environmental NGOs (number of NGOs and their respective human and finan cial resources) Currency, number
- Number of pro-environmental activities Number
- Number of pro-environmental programmes Number
99 Chapter 4 From the Basic Set to the Core Set of Environment Statistics 4.1. This chapter further develops the FDES by presenting the statistics that describe the statistical topics grouped within the Basic Set of Environment Statistics and the Core Set of Environment Statistics. These Sets have been developed in response to country demand, based on their relevance to environmental issues and corresponding FDES topics. The statistics contained in these Sets are useful for generating national sets or databases of environment statistics, reporting on environment or sustainable development, calculating environmental indicators and generating environmental-economic accounts. 4.1. The Basic Set of Environment Statistics 4.2. As seen in Chapter 3, the Basic Set of Environment Statistics is a comprehensive, but not exhaustive, set of statistics designed to support countries developing environment statistics programmes according to their national priorities for statistical development. This Basic Set of Statistics is flexible enough to be adapted to individual countries’ environmental concerns, priorities and resources. The Basic Set of Environment Statistics thus features a progression of three tiers (see Figure 4.1). Tier 1 defines the Core Set of Environment Statistics, that is, a set of statistics which countries are recommended to consider producing in the short-term. As national priorities require and data availability and resources permit, the scope may be wid ened gradually to include the statistics in Tiers 2 and 3. A description of Tiers 2 and 3 follows in the text below. Figure 4.1 The Core Set embedded in the Basic Set of Environment Statistics Tier 3 Tier 2 Tier 1 Core Set of Environment Statistics Basic Set of Environment Statistics
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013)
100
4.3.
This approach is useful in providing an overview of the entire field of environment sta
tistics. It can help statisticians identify data providing institutions and make the arrangements
for regular data acquisition. It serves as a starting point for identifying appropriate statistical
series and will help to determine relevant classifications.
4.4.
The development of the Basic Set of Environment Statistics began in 2010 with a review
of the UNSD List of Environmental Indicators, adopted by the United Nations Statistical Com
mission in 1995, and the lists of environment statistics contained in the two technical reports
which accompanied the 1984 FDES.86,87 The process also involved assessing international data
collection efforts, including major global or regional indicator initiatives. The selection of sta
tistics also took into account the relevant data needed to respond to global environmental
conventions and MEAs.
4.5.
The process included a review of 2,575 environmental indicators and statistics.
Indicators and statistics were reviewed from 37 sources and 65 lists/sets from international,
regional and inter-governmental institutions, global environmental conventions, academia
and NGOs. These indicators and statistics were then organized around preliminary themes
and subthemes. By indicating global, regional and thematic priorities, this approach helped to
determine the FDES component structure. It also provided the opportunity to identify those
closely related fields that, due to their importance, should be included in the scope of the FDES.
The necessary underlying statistics were listed separately for each environmental indicator.
Additionally, statistics considered as important in their own right—that is, not necessarily as
an input to any indicator—were also included.
4.6.
Based on this aforementioned analysis, statistics that focus on the most important envi
ronmental and associated economic and social activities, which can be used for analysis and
reporting on the environment, were included in the Basic Set of Environment Statistics. This
set does not constitute an exhaustive collection of environment statistics, but it does present
a selection of 458 statistics that are considered relevant, appropriate, adequate and important
for describing and measuring the environment and for responding to policy needs or public
information requirements. All environment statistics identified for inclusion in the Basic Set
were then grouped according to the FDES structure outlined in Chapter 3, which consists of
components, subcomponents and topics.
4.7.
The contents of the Basic Set were then tested, on a pilot basis, in 25 countries from all
regions of the world at various stages of developing their national environment statistics. The
pilot test in each country consisted primarily of assessing the relevance and availability of the
statistics. The countries were also asked to indicate the priority of each statistic for national
policymaking. The results of this pilot test have helped to prioritize and determine the appro
priate set of statistics to be included in the Core Set (Tier 1), Tier 2 and Tier 3.
4.8.
The Basic Set was then divided into three tiers of statistics with the Core Set of Environ
ment Statistics (Tier 1) identified. The three tiers of statistics are defined as follows:
•
Tier 1 corresponds to the Core Set of Environment Statistics, which are of high
priority and relevance to most countries and have a sound methodological founda
tion. It is recommended that countries consider producing them in the short-term.
•
Tier 2 includes environment statistics which are of priority and relevance to most
countries but require greater investment of time, resources or methodological
development. It is recommended that countries consider producing them in the
medium-term.
•
Tier 3 includes environment statistics which are either of lower priority or require
significant methodological development. It is recommended that countries con
sider producing them in the long-term.
86 United Nations Statistics Division
(1988). Concepts and Methods of
Environment Statistics: Human
Settlements Statistics—A
Technical Report, available from
http://unstats.un.org/unsd
/publication/SeriesF/SeriesF_51e
.pdf (accessed 4 August 2017).
87 United Nations Statistics Division
(1991). Concepts and Methods of
Environment Statistics: Statistics of
the Natural Environment—
A Technical Report, available
from http://unstats.un.org/unsd
/publication/SeriesF/SeriesF_57E
.pdf (accessed 4 August 2017).