101 From the Basic Set to the Core Set of Environment Statistics 101 The table below provides the number of statistics according to each of the three Tiers and the six components. Table 4.1 Distribution of Statistics by Tier and Component Component 1 Component 2 Component 3 Component 4 Component 5 Component 6 Total Tier 1 32 30 19 4 12 3 100 Tier 2 58 51 34 11 22 24 200 Tier 3 51 43 5 16 20 23 158 Total 141 124 58 31 54 50 458 4.9. The main selection criteria for the Core Set of Environment Statistics (Tier 1) were relevance, measurability and methodological soundness, described further as follows: i. Relevance: Core statistics should meet the needs of the broad variety of users and be responsive to changes in the environment and related human activities; ii. Measurability: Core statistics should have sufficient supporting data and metadata readily available, be of accepted quality and be updated regularly, or it should be possible to compile them in the near term; iii. Methodological soundness: Core statistics should adhere to professional and sci entific methods, as well as to internationally agreed concepts and definitions to the extent possible. 4.10. Finally, the Basic Set and Core Set were analysed based on their usefulness in monitor ing and measuring the SDGs emerging from the discussions around the post-2015 development agenda. 4.2. The Core Set of Environment Statistics 4.11. The Core Set of Environment Statistics consists of a limited number of statistics, as well as some non-statistical information on the environment. The Core Set represents a broad consensus of opinion on the pertinence and feasibility of these statistics. As such, it is intended to foster collection, coordination and harmonization of environment statistics at the national, regional and global levels. 4.12. When a country faces stringent resource constraints in developing a national environ ment statistics programme, or is at the early stages in the development of environment statis tics, the Core Set is well suited to provide guidance in determining priorities, scope, timing and periodicity in the production of such statistics, depending on national circumstances. It presents a comprehensive body of relevant environment statistics which can easily be tailored to suit specific national needs. 4.13. The Core Set can also help to identify data gaps in established national environment statistics programmes. Some countries may have initiated environment statistics programmes in response to very specific event-driven imperatives. The use of the Core Set and the “Manual on the Basic Set of Environment Statistics” for its compilation will allow countries to build on such beginnings by adding or adjusting statistics based on an organized set of concepts and definitions that have been agreed upon and used widely. These can complement existing environmental data collection activities to provide countries with a more complete statistical description of environmental concerns.
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 102 4.14. The Core Set provides guidance on the statistics to be included in a national environ ment statistics programme to provide national policymakers and international agencies with the most relevant information on environmental issues of interest to countries and those that extend beyond national boundaries. It incorporates the most pertinent statistics needed to report on global environmental conventions and MEAs. As such, its use in national statistical programmes will help improve reporting on these conventions and agreements. 4.15. The Core Set will be accompanied by detailed guidance on agreed concepts, definitions, classifications and data compilation methods that will be included in the “Manual on the Basic Set of Environment Statistics”. This methodological guidance will be used to train and assist countries that wish to incorporate the Core Set into their national statistical programmes. This will be invaluable in ensuring the availability of a defined set of relevant and internationally comparable environment statistics. 4.16. In conclusion, the Core Set, together with the Basic Set of Environment Statistics, can contribute to the gradual production and strengthening of environment statistics within countries and thus enable and support the development, monitoring and assessment of evi dence-based environmental policies. They can be instrumental when dealing with the growing demand for monitoring and reporting on the environment and sustainable development. The FDES, as well as the Core and Basic Sets of Environment Statistics, provides a flexible frame work that can identify and organize the environment statistics necessary to inform users on a range of environmental issues. While the Core Set and the Basic Set are not exhaustive, given the state of current knowledge, they are comprehensive enough to respond to both existing and emerging issues. 4.3. Contents of the Core Set of Environment Statistics 4.17. Table 4.2 presents the Core Set which organizes the statistics by the components, sub components and statistical topics of the FDES. The Basic Set of Environment Statistics, showing where the Core Set is embedded for each statistical topic of the FDES, is found in Annex A. The numbering and lettering in this table are not necessarily consecutive because the statistics, which are all Tier 1, are only a selection of the Basic Set. Legend 1. The first level in the tables, preceded by a lower-case letter, is the statistics group/ category; in some cases where there are no statistics below the first level, this level may also describe a specific statistic. 2. The second level in the tables, preceded by a number, identifies specific statistics. 3. Bold text in the fourth and fifth columns denotes Tier 1 (Core Set) statistics. 4. Categories of measurement are shown in the sixth column.
103 From the Basic Set to the Core Set of Environment Statistics 103 The Core Set of Environment Statistics Table 4.2 The Core Set of Environment Statistics Component Subcomponent Topic Core Set / Tier 1 Statistics Category of measurement Component 1: Environmental Conditions and Quality Subcomponent 1.1: Physical Conditions Topic 1.1.1: Atmosphere, climate and weather a. Temperature
- Monthly average Degrees
- Minimum monthly average Degrees
- Maximum monthly average Degrees b. Precipitation (also in 2.6.1.a)
- Annual average Height
- Long-term annual average Height Topic 1.1.2: Hydrographical charac teristics d. Watersheds
- Description of main watersheds Area, description Topic 1.1.3: Geological and geographi cal information a. Geological, geographical and geomorphological conditions of terrestrial areas and islands
- Area of country or region Area, location b. Coastal waters (including area of coral reefs and mangroves) Area, description c. Length of marine coastline Length d. Coastal area Area Topic 1.1.4: Soil characteristics a. Soil characterization
- Area by soil types Area b. Soil degradation
- Area affected by soil erosion Area
- Area affected by desertification Area Subcomponent 1.2: Land Cover, Ecosystems and Biodiversity Topic 1.2.1: Land cover a. Area under land cover categories Area Topic 1.2.2: Ecosystems and biodiversity a. General ecosystem character istics, extent and pattern
- Area of ecosystems Area c. Biodiversity
- Known flora and fauna species Number d. Protected areas and species
- Protected terrestrial and marine area (also in 1.2.3.a) Area Topic 1.2.3: Forests a. Forest area
- Total Area Subcomponent 1.3: Environmental Quality Topic 1.3.1: Air quality a. Local air quality
- Concentration level of particulate matter (PM10) Concentration
- Concentration level of particulate matter (PM2.5) Concentration
- Concentration level of tropospheric ozone (O3) Concentration
- Concentration level of carbon monoxide (CO) Concentration
- Concentration level of sulphur dioxide (SO2) Concentration
- Concentration levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) Concentration Topic 1.3.2: Freshwater quality a. Nutrients and chlorophyll
- Concentration level of nitrogen Concentration
- Concentration level of phosphorous Concentration b. Organic matter
- Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Concentration c. Pathogens
- Concentration levels of faecal coliforms Concentration Topic 1.3.3: Marine water quality a. Nutrients and chlorophyll
- Concentration level of nitrogen Concentration
- Concentration level of phosphorous Concentration b. Organic matter
- Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) Concentration g. Coral bleaching
- Area affected by coral bleaching Area
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 104 Table 4.2 The Core Set of Environment Statistics (continued) Component Subcomponent Topic Core Set / Tier 1 Statistics Category of measurement Component 2: Environmental Resources and their Use Subcomponent 2.1: Mineral Resources Topic 2.1.1: Stocks and changes of mineral resources a. Mineral resources
- Stocks of commercially recoverable resources Mass, volume
- Extraction Mass, volume Subcomponent 2.2: Energy Resources Topic 2.2.1: Stocks and changes of energy resources a. Energy resources
- Stocks of commercially recoverable resources Mass, volume
- Extraction Mass, volume Topic 2.2.2: Production, trade and consumption of energy a. Production of energy
- Total production Energy unit, mass, volume
- Production from non-renewable sources Energy unit, mass, volume
- Production from renewable sources Energy unit, mass, volume
- Primary energy production Energy unit, mass, volume
- Secondary energy production Energy unit, mass, volume b. Total energy supply Energy unit, mass, volume c. Final consumption of energy Energy unit, mass, volume Subcomponent 2.3: Land Topic 2.3.1: Land use a. Area under land use categories Area Topic 2.3.2: Use of forest land a. Use of forest land
- Area deforested Area Subcomponent 2.5: Biological Resources Topic 2.5.1: Timber resources a. Timber resources
- Stocks of timber resources Volume Topic 2.5.2: Aquatic resources a. Fish capture production Mass b. Aquaculture production Mass Topic 2.5.3: Crops a. Main annual and perennial crops
- Area planted Area
- Area harvested Area
- Amount produced Mass b. Amount used of:
- Natural fertilizers (e.g., manure, compost, lime) (also in 3.4.1.a) Area, mass, volume
- Chemical fertilizers (also in 3.4.1.a) Area, mass, volume
- Pesticides (also in 3.4.1.b) Area, mass, volume Topic 2.5.4: Livestock a. Livestock
- Number of live animals Number Subcomponent 2.6: Water Resources Topic 2.6.1: Water resources a. Inflow of water to inland water resources
- Precipitation (also in 1.1.1.b) Volume
- Inflow from neighbouring territories Volume b. Outflow of water from inland water resources
- Evapotranspiration Volume Topic 2.6.2: Abstraction, use and returns of water a. Total water abstraction Volume b. Water abstraction from surface water Volume c. Water abstraction from groundwater
- From renewable groundwater resources Volume
- From non-renewable groundwater resources Volume
105 From the Basic Set to the Core Set of Environment Statistics 105 Component Subcomponent Topic Core Set / Tier 1 Statistics Category of measurement Component 3: Residuals Subcomponent 3.1: Emissions to Air Topic 3.1.1: Emissions of greenhouse gases a. Total emissions of direct green house gases (GHGs), by gas:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) Mass
- Methane (CH4) Mass
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) Mass b. Total emissions of indirect green house gases (GHGs), by gas:
- Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Mass
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Mass Subcomponent 3.2: Generation and Management of Wastewater Topic 3.2.1: Generation and pollutant content of wastewater a. Volume of wastewater generated Volume Topic 3.2.2: Collection and treat ment of wastewater a. Volume of wastewater collected Volume b. Volume of wastewater treated Volume Topic 3.2.3: Discharge of wastewater to the environment a. Wastewater discharge
- Total volume of wastewater discharged to the environment after treatment Volume
- Total volume of wastewater discharged to the environ ment without treatment Volume Subcomponent 3.3: Generation and Management of Waste Topic 3.3.1: Generation of waste a. Amount of waste generated by source Mass c. Amount of hazardous waste generated Mass Topic 3.3.2: Management of waste a. Municipal waste
- Total municipal waste collected Mass
- Amount of municipal waste treated by type of treatment and disposal Mass
- Number of municipal waste treatment and disposal facilities Number b. Hazardous waste
- Total hazardous waste collected Mass
- Amount of hazardous waste treated by type of treat ment and disposal Mass
- Number of hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities Number d. Amount of recycled waste Mass