Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) xvi Table 3.5.2.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 5.2.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Table 3.5.2.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 5.2.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Table 3.5.2.3 Statistics and related information for Topic 5.2.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Table 3.5.2.4 Statistics and related information for Topic 5.2.4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Table 3.5.2.5 Statistics and related information for Topic 5.2.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Table 3.6.1.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.1.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Table 3.6.1.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.1.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Table 3.6.2.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.2.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Table 3.6.2.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.2.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Table 3.6.2.3 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.2.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Table 3.6.3.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.3.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 Table 3.6.3.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.3.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Table 3.6.4.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.4.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Table 3.6.4.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.4.2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Table 3.6.4.3 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.4.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Table 3.6.4.4 Statistics and related information for Topic 6.4.4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Table 4.1 Distribution of Statistics by Tier and Component . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 Table 4.2 The Core Set of Environment Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Table 5.1 Agri-Environmental Indicators available within FAOSTAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Table A.1 The Basic Set of Environment Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Table D.1 Land Cover Classification based on FAO LCCS (interim) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Table D.2 Classification of Land Use (interim) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Table D.3 Classification of Environmental Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Table D.4 UNECE Standard Statistical Classification of Marine Water Quality (1992) . . 199 Table D.5 UNECE Standard Statistical Classification of Surface Freshwater Quality for the Maintenance of Aquatic Life (1992) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Table D.6 UNECE Standard Statistical Classification of Ambient Air Quality (1990) . . . 201 Table D.7 Record for individual natural disaster occurrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Table D.8 CRED EM-DAT classification of disasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Table D.9 IUCN classification of protected areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 page
1
Introduction
Why is a framework needed?
Though environment statistics is still a relatively new statistical domain, the demand for such
statistics is increasing in conjunction with continuing environmental degradation and the
challenges associated with improved environmental management. The recognition that human
well-being depends on the environment has led to a growing list of environmental issues on
which decisions must be taken, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and natural resource
management. Given the need for governments, businesses, households and other decision mak
ers to deal effectively with these issues, the environment statistics informing them must be of
the highest quality possible.
Environment statistics provide information about the state and changes of environmen
tal conditions, the quality and availability of environmental resources, the impact of human
activities and natural events on the environment and the impact of changing environmental
conditions. They also provide information about the social actions and economic measures
that societies take to avoid or mitigate these impacts and to restore and maintain the capacity
of the environment to provide the services that are essential for life and human well-being.
Environment statistics thus cover a wide range of information and are multi- and inter-
disciplinary in nature. They originate from a variety of institutions that collect data and, simi
larly, numerous methods are used to compile them. The field of environment statistics requires
an appropriate framework to guide its development, coordination and organization.
This environment statistics framework (i) marks out the scope of environment statis
tics; (ii) facilitates a synthesized presentation of data from various subject areas and sources;
(iii) simplifies the complexity of the environment appropriately so that it can be measured more
easily; (iv) helps to identify the range of statistics relevant to societal decision-making regarding
the environment; (v) is consistent with statistical frameworks already used in other domains to
facilitate the integration of environment statistics; and (vi) is conceptually based.
Background
A Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics 2 (FDES) was first published in 1984
by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), along with its subsequent publications, Con
cepts and Methods of Environment Statistics: Human Settlements Statistics 3 (1988) and Concepts
and Methods of Environment Statistics: Statistics of the Natural Environment 4 (1991). The 1984
FDES and subsequent publications have been a useful framework for guiding countries in the
development of their environment statistics programmes. Since its publication, many scientific,
political, technological, statistical and experience-based developments have occurred, which
suggested that the FDES could benefit from revision.
Consequently, the United Nations Statistical Commission, at its forty-first session (23-
26 February 2010), endorsed a work programme and the establishment of an Expert Group
for the revision of the FDES and the development of a Core Set of Environment Statistics. The
members of the Expert Group represented prod cers and users of environment statistics of
2 United Nations Statistics Division
(1984). A Framework for the
Development of Environment
Statistics, available from
http://unstats.un.org
/unsd/publication/SeriesM
/SeriesM_78e.pdf (accessed
4 August 2017).
3 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).
4 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).
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013)2
countries from all regions and at different stages of development, as well as several international
organizations, specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).5
The revision process
The revision was based on an agreed set of criteria and has been supported by extensive inter-
national expert consultation. The 1984 FDES was used as the starting point. It was revised
taking into account the lessons learned during its application in different countries as well as
improved scientific knowledge about the environment and new requirements created by emerg-
ing environmental concerns and policy issues, including major Multilateral Environmental
Agreements (MEAs). The revision has also taken into account the increasing prominence of
environmental sustainability issues and concepts, including the outcome of the Rio+20 Con -
ference and the work on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Existing environment sta -
tistics and indicator frameworks were analysed, including major developments in the field of
environmental-economic accounting and selected thematic developments relevant to environ-
ment statistics. (For more information on developments since 1984 and on MEAs, see Annex B:
Developments since 1984 and Annex C: Multilateral Environment Agreements.
The revision was undertaken as part of UNSD’s work programme on environment
statistics, supported by the Expert Group on the Revision of the FDES. The drafts were reviewed
in four face-to-face meetings of the Expert Group and in several rounds of electronic discussion.
The Basic Set of Environment Statistics was tested by 25 countries and two organizations. The
final draft of the FDES underwent a Global Consultation, yielding feedback from 76 countries,
areas and organizations. The present document is the result of this extensive consultation
process.
The FDES 2013
The FDES 2013 is a flexible, multipurpose conceptual and statistical framework that is compre-
hensive and integrative in nature. It marks out the scope of environment statistics and provides
an organizing structure to guide their collection and compilation and to synthesize data from
various subject areas and sources, covering the issues and aspects of the environment that are
relevant for analysis, policy- and decision-making.
The FDES 2013 targets a broad user community, including environmental statisticians
in national statistical offices (NSOs), environmental ministries and agencies, as well as other
producers of environment statistics. It helps to mark out the roles of the different data produc-
ers, thus facilitating coordination at different levels.
The FDES 2013 is structured in a way that allows links to economic and social domains.
It seeks to be compatible with other frameworks and systems, both statistical and analyti -
cal, such as the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), the Driving force-
Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, and the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), SDGs and the sustainable development indicator (SDI) frameworks. When applicable,
it is based on existing statistical classifications. As such, the FDES facilitates data integration
within environment statistics and with economic and social statistics.
The FDES 2013 organizes environment statistics into six components and each of them
is broken down into subcomponents and statistical topics. The six components include envi -
ronmental conditions and quality; the availability and use of environmental resources and
related human activities; the use of the environment as a sink for residuals and related human
activities; extreme events and disasters; human settlements and environmental health; and
social and economic measures to protect and manage the environment. The statistical topics
5 United Nations Statistics
Division. Expert Group on
the Revision of the UN FDES,
available from http://unstats
.un.org/unsd/environment
/fdes/fdes_egm.htm (accessed
4 August 2017).
3Introduction 3
represent the quantifiable aspects of the components and are grouped into subcomponents,
taking into account the types and sources of the statistics needed to describe them.
The FDES 2013 sets out a comprehensive, though not exhaustive, list of statistics (the
Basic Set of Environment Statistics) that can be used to measure the statistical topics. The Basic
Set is organized into three tiers, based on the level of relevance, availability and methodological
development of the statistics.
Within this scope, a Core Set of Environment Statistics has been identified as Tier 1. The
objective of the Core Set is to serve as an agreed, limited set of environment statistics that are
of high priority and relevance to most countries. Harmonized international definitions, clas -
sifications and data collection methods for these statistics will be provided in subsequent meth-
odological handbooks to facilitate their production in an internationally comparable manner.
The FDES 2013 is relevant to, and recommended for use by, countries at all stages of
development. However, it is particularly useful for guiding the formulation of environment
statistics programmes in countries at the early stages of developing environment statistics as
it (i) identifies the scope and constituent components, subcomponents and statistical topics
relevant for them; (ii) contributes to the assessment of data requirements, sources, availability
and gaps; (iii) guides the development of multipurpose data collection processes and databases;
and (iv) assists in the coordination and organization of environment statistics, given the inter-
institutional nature of the domain.
Structure of the document
Chapter 1 of the FDES 2013 provides an overview of the main characteristics of environment
statistics. It identifies the main uses and user groups and the relationship between environmen-
tal data, statistics, accounts and indicators. The typical sources of data and the most important
temporal and spatial considerations are also introduced. A brief description of existing clas -
sifications, categorizations and other groupings widely used in environment statistics is also
presented. Particular attention is paid to the institutional aspects of environment statistics.
Chapter 2 presents the conceptual foundation and scope of the FDES. It explains the
underlying fundamental concepts and how they have been translated into the six components
that constitute the Framework. It introduces the hierarchical layers of components, subcompo-
nents and statistical topics that provide the organizational structure for environment statistics.
Finally, Chapter 2 explores the relationship between the FDES and other frameworks, particu-
larly the SEEA and the DPSIR analytical framework.
Chapter 3 provides an expanded discussion of the components, subcomponents and
statistical topics of the FDES. It describes the relevance of the statistical topics, the typical
data sources and institutional partners. It sets out the relevant statistics needed to describe
the statistical topics and their relationships and provides information on the most important
aspects of temporal and spatial aggregation, as well as on existing methodology. These statistics
constitute the Basic Set of Environment Statistics.
Chapter 4 presents the three-tiered organization of the Basic Set of Environment Sta -
tistics, based on the relevance, availability and methodological development of the statistics.
It introduces the Core Set of Environment Statistics (Tier 1 of the Basic Set) and describes the
criteria and process for selecting them.
Chapter 5 provides examples of the application of the FDES to selected cross-cutting
environmental and socioeconomic issues (such as climate change), as well as to specific sectoral
or thematic analytical needs (such as agriculture and the environment, water management, the
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013)4
energy sector and the environment). These examples illustrate the flexibility and adaptability
of the FDES to different user and policy needs.
Annex A contains the full Basic Set of Environment Statistics. Annex B provides sup -
porting information on the conceptual and policy developments since the publication of the
FDES in 1984. Annex C describes the major MEAs relevant to environment statistics. Annex
D presents some of the most important classifications and other groupings used in environ -
ment statistics.
Future work
Following the endorsement of the FDES 2013, work will focus on its implementation at the
national level. Detailed methodological guidance and training material for the FDES, the Core
and Basic Sets of Environment Statistics will be developed, including classifications, definitions
and data collection and compilation methods, building on existing methodologies and ongoing
methodological work in environment and sectoral statistics, and in environmental-economic
accounting.
5
Chapter 1
Overview of environment statistics—
characteristics and challenges
1.1.
This chapter describes the domain of environment statistics, introduces its main char
acteristics and discusses some of the methodological and institutional challenges that should
be considered when working in this field, keeping the Fundamental Principles of Official Sta
tistics in mind (see box). These characteristics are the basis of the FDES 2013. The FDES as a
tool for organizing the content and production of environment statistics will be described in
depth in Chapter 2.
1.2.
Environment statistics cut across several disciplines and draw data from a wide range
of sources. In addition to the NSOs and environmental ministries and agencies, several other
Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics
Principle 1. Official statistics provide an indispensable element in the information system of
a democratic society, serving the Government, the economy and the public with data about the
economic, demographic, social and environmental situation. To this end, official statistics that meet
the test of practical utility are to be compiled and made available on an impartial basis by official
statistical agencies to honour citizens’ entitlement to public information.
Principle 2. To retain trust in official statistics, the statistical agencies need to decide according
to strictly professional considerations, including scientific principles and professional ethics, on the
methods and procedures for the collection, processing, storage and presentation of statistical data.
Principle 3. To facilitate a correct interpretation of the data, the statistical agencies are to present
information according to scientific standards on the sources, methods and procedures of the statistics.
Principle 4. The statistical agencies are entitled to comment on erroneous interpretation and
misuse of statistics.
Principle 5. Data for statistical purposes may be drawn from all types of sources, be they statistical
surveys or administrative records. Statistical agencies are to choose the source with regard to quality,
timeliness, costs and the burden on respondents.
Principle 6. Individual data collected by statistical agencies for statistical compilation, whether
they refer to natural or legal persons, are to be strictly confidential and used exclusively for statistical
purposes.
Principle 7. The laws, regulations and measures under which the statistical systems operate are to
be made public.
Principle 8. Coordination among statistical agencies within countries is essential to achieve
consistency and efficiency in the statistical system.
Principle 9. The use by statistical agencies in each country of international concepts, classifications
and methods promotes the consistency and efficiency of statistical systems at all official levels.
Principle 10. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation in statistics contributes to the improvement of
systems of official statistics in all countries.
Source: United Nations Statistics
Division. Fundamental Principles
of Official Statistics, available from
http://unstats.un.org/unsd/dnss
/gp/fundprinciples.aspx (accessed
4 August 2017).