Environment by Numbers

Environmental Statistics and the ABSEnvironmental Statistics and the ABS

Michael VardonMichael Vardon

Environment and Energy StatisticsEnvironment and Energy Statistics

Overview of presentation

About the ABSAbout the ABS Environment by NumbersEnvironment by Numbers

National Balance SheetNational Balance Sheet SalinitySalinity

ABS information products and environment ABS information products and environment collections collections

Evolution of environmental statistics Evolution of environmental statistics Centre for Environment, Natural Resources, Energy Centre for Environment, Natural Resources, Energy

and Sustainability Statistics (CENRESS)and Sustainability Statistics (CENRESS) Information Development Plan (IDP)Information Development Plan (IDP)

ABS Mission

““We assist and encourage informed We assist and encourage informed decision-making, research and decision-making, research and

discussion within governments and discussion within governments and the community by providing a high the community by providing a high

quality, objective and responsive quality, objective and responsive national statistical service”national statistical service”

ABS provides statistics on:

EconomyEconomy National Accounts (e.g. GDP), Price National Accounts (e.g. GDP), Price

indexes, Labour forceindexes, Labour force

SocietySociety Population Census, Education, Indigenous Population Census, Education, Indigenous

people, Health and Welfarepeople, Health and Welfare

Environment Environment

Aspects of data quality

Some aspects to data qualitySome aspects to data quality Accuracy and precisionAccuracy and precision Timely (how soon after the measurements is the Timely (how soon after the measurements is the

data available)data available) Frequency (monthly, annual, 5-yearly)Frequency (monthly, annual, 5-yearly) Scale (local, regional, state, national) Scale (local, regional, state, national) Relevant (who uses the data and how is is used)Relevant (who uses the data and how is is used) Fit-for-purposeFit-for-purpose

Environment by Numbers

Collection of 25 articles relating to the Collection of 25 articles relating to the environment and sustainabilityenvironment and sustainability

Most written by ABS staff, coordinated by Beth Most written by ABS staff, coordinated by Beth Edwards Edwards

All but one were contained in the ABS 2003 Year All but one were contained in the ABS 2003 Year BookBook

Not intended to be comprehensiveNot intended to be comprehensive Grabbed the attention of the media and policy Grabbed the attention of the media and policy

departmentsdepartments

Environment by Numbers – Media focused on Environmental viewsEnvironmental views

decline in concern about environment decline in concern about environment from 75% in 1992 to 62% in 2001. Even from 75% in 1992 to 62% in 2001. Even bigger decline in 18-24 year olds (79% to bigger decline in 18-24 year olds (79% to 57%)57%)

Salinity and farm management statisticsSalinity and farm management statistics

Environment by Numbers – Policy departments focused on Also on salinity and farm managementAlso on salinity and farm management Environmental Accounting and in particular Environmental Accounting and in particular

the value of environmental assets on the the value of environmental assets on the National Balance SheetNational Balance Sheet

What is National Balance Sheet?

Part of the System of National Accounts (SNA93)Part of the System of National Accounts (SNA93)Estimates total economic assets (=wealth)Estimates total economic assets (=wealth)Produced annuallyProduced annuallyTo be included on the balance sheet the item To be included on the balance sheet the item must be an economic asset from which ownership must be an economic asset from which ownership

rights are enforced by institutional units, rights are enforced by institutional units, individually and collectivelyindividually and collectively

Must be an economic asset from which economic Must be an economic asset from which economic benefits may be derived by its owner from holding benefits may be derived by its owner from holding it, or using it, over a period of time.it, or using it, over a period of time.

Components of the balance sheet

Produced assetsProduced assets Buildings, machinery, livestock, plantation Buildings, machinery, livestock, plantation

timbertimber

Non-produced assetsNon-produced assets Land, subsoil, native forests, spectrumLand, subsoil, native forests, spectrum

Financial assetsFinancial assets Bank deposits, shares, bonds, superBank deposits, shares, bonds, super

Two versions of the balance sheetCurrent price balance sheetCurrent price balance sheet Uses actual prices in the periodUses actual prices in the period

Volume balance sheetVolume balance sheet Removes the effect of price changesRemoves the effect of price changes Australia the only nation with thisAustralia the only nation with this

Principles of asset valuation

Valuation should be market transaction basedValuation should be market transaction based

Where market prices are not available, two Where market prices are not available, two optionsoptions

Perpetual inventory methodPerpetual inventory method Net present valueNet present value

National Balance Sheet (current prices)National Balance Sheet (current prices)

Environmental assets

LandLand Subsoil (minerals, fossil fuels, etc)Subsoil (minerals, fossil fuels, etc) Timber (native and plantation)Timber (native and plantation)

Environmental Assets on the Environmental Assets on the Australian National Balance SheetAustralian National Balance Sheet(Chain Volume)(Chain Volume)

Subsoil assets

Value of native timber

Land value and degradationLand value and degradation(Chain volume - reference year 1998-99)(Chain volume - reference year 1998-99)

Land Management and Salinity

Land Management and Salinity Survey 2002Land Management and Salinity Survey 2002 ~20,000 farmers surveyed in May 2002~20,000 farmers surveyed in May 2002 Response rate >90%Response rate >90% First results published in Salinity on First results published in Salinity on

Australian Farms, December 2002Australian Farms, December 2002 Re-published in Environment by NumbersRe-published in Environment by Numbers More information to comeMore information to come

Results

Area of land showing signs of salinityArea of land showing signs of salinity 2 million ha or 0.4% of agricultural land2 million ha or 0.4% of agricultural land WA largest area with 1.2 million hectaresWA largest area with 1.2 million hectares WA and Vic. highest percentage of agricultural WA and Vic. highest percentage of agricultural

land (1.1%)land (1.1%)

Number of farms showing signs of salinityNumber of farms showing signs of salinity 20,000 or 14% of all farms20,000 or 14% of all farms 6,900 or 51% of WA farms6,900 or 51% of WA farms

Current ABS environmental collections Energy Survey 2001/02 (one-off)Energy Survey 2001/02 (one-off)Local Government Environment Protection Local Government Environment Protection

Expenditure 2002/03 (annual)Expenditure 2002/03 (annual)Household Survey - Transport and Waste Household Survey - Transport and Waste

March 2003 (annual survey with topics March 2003 (annual survey with topics rotating over three years)rotating over three years)

Land Management Survey 2003/04 (biennial)Land Management Survey 2003/04 (biennial)Water Survey Agriculture 2002/03 (biennial)Water Survey Agriculture 2002/03 (biennial)

Water Survey Agriculture

Discussion document availableDiscussion document available Draft test form availableDraft test form available Consulting now underwayConsulting now underway

Other environmental publications

Environmental Issues: People’s Views and Environmental Issues: People’s Views and Practices, December 2002Practices, December 2002

Australia’s Environment: Issues and Australia’s Environment: Issues and Trends, July/August 2003Trends, July/August 2003

Water Account Australia (2Water Account Australia (2ndnd edition), edition), October/November 2003October/November 2003

Water Account for Australia

11stst published 2000 published 2000 Presented information on water use by all Presented information on water use by all

industries, including agricultureindustries, including agriculture Underpinned much of the water data Underpinned much of the water data

presented by the NLWRApresented by the NLWRA 22ndnd edition out in October/November 2003 edition out in October/November 2003 22ndnd edition will provide some regional water edition will provide some regional water

datadata

Evolution of environment statistics Compared to economic and social statistics a Compared to economic and social statistics a

relatively new fieldrelatively new field Frameworks and standards are evolving Frameworks and standards are evolving

developing nationally and internationallydeveloping nationally and internationally Have build up knowledge and can more clearly Have build up knowledge and can more clearly

define information needsdefine information needs The field is maturing and some hard monitoring The field is maturing and some hard monitoring

and measurement issues are being addressedand measurement issues are being addressed

International environmental agenda 1987 Our Common Future – the Brundtland 1987 Our Common Future – the Brundtland

Commission ReportCommission Report 1992 Rio “Earth Summit” and Agenda 211992 Rio “Earth Summit” and Agenda 21 2002 Jo’burg “Rio+10”2002 Jo’burg “Rio+10”

System of Integrated Economic and Environmental Accounting (SIEEA or SEEA) First published 1993 First published 1993 Revised SEEA 2002 (draft)Revised SEEA 2002 (draft)

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/environmenthttp://unstats.un.org/unsd/environment

The Australian environmental scene 1992 Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable 1992 Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable

DevelopmentDevelopment 1996 and 2001 State of the Environment 1996 and 2001 State of the Environment

ReportsReports National Land and Water Resources Audit National Land and Water Resources Audit 2002 Headline Sustainability Indicators 2002 Headline Sustainability Indicators

reportreport

National Statistical Service

ABS concept but ABS is only a part of the ABS concept but ABS is only a part of the statistical servicestatistical service

Understand particular fields of statistics and Understand particular fields of statistics and ensure that collection activity matches ensure that collection activity matches information needs information needs

ABS is at the centre of some fields (e.g. ABS is at the centre of some fields (e.g. economic statistics) but not others economic statistics) but not others (e.g.environment)(e.g.environment)

ABS’ niche in environment statistics

Still being definedStill being defined Contribute informationContribute information Have input to various committees and working Have input to various committees and working

groupsgroups Centre for Environment, Natural Resources, Energy Centre for Environment, Natural Resources, Energy

and Sustainability Statistics (CENRESS)and Sustainability Statistics (CENRESS) Information Development PlansInformation Development Plans

Centre for Environment, Natural Resource, Energy and Sustainability Statistics (CENRESS)

Service data usersService data users Will coordinate and prioritise ABS input to Will coordinate and prioritise ABS input to

environmental data collection environmental data collection Will have an Advisory Board/Committee Will have an Advisory Board/Committee

with representation from Commonwealth with representation from Commonwealth and State/Territory Agencies as well and State/Territory Agencies as well relevant experts and NGOsrelevant experts and NGOs

First meeting planned for end of July First meeting planned for end of July

Information Development Plans

Understand data needsUnderstand data needs Map current data supplyMap current data supply Bring the two closer togetherBring the two closer together Coordinate activityCoordinate activity Identify gapsIdentify gaps Assess priorities Assess priorities

Environment IDP

Many players supplying and using dataMany players supplying and using data Complex subject matterComplex subject matter Many views of data needsMany views of data needs Many views on what priorities areMany views on what priorities are Desire to better coordinate and utilise Desire to better coordinate and utilise

existing resourcesexisting resources Draft IDP will be available in JuneDraft IDP will be available in June

Information supply and use

SupplySupply UseUse

ABSABS ABAREABARE BRSBRS AFFAAFFA EAEA ISTIST StatesStates PublicPublic

PrimaryPrimary

ABSABS SoESoE

ABAREABARE SoESoE

BRSBRS SoESoE

StatesStates SoESoE

SecondarySecondary

EAEA SoESoE SoESoE

SoE environment information needs and the ABS

PressurePressure StateState ResponseResponse

AtmosphereAtmosphere ABSABS ABSABS

Coasts & oceansCoasts & oceans ABSABS ABSABS

LandLand ABSABS ABSABS

Inland waterInland water ABSABS ABSABS

BiodiversityBiodiversity ABSABS ABSABS

Natural & cultural Natural & cultural heritageheritage

ABSABS ABSABS

Human Human settlementssettlements

ABSABS ABSABS

Sector by resource use and EPE EPEEPE Water useWater use Energy useEnergy use

IndustryIndustry

-agriculture-agriculture

-mining-mining

GovernmentGovernment

-local-local

-state/territory-state/territory

-national-national

Research Research agenciesagencies

NGOsNGOs

HouseholdsHouseholds

Summary

The ABS provides a range of statistics on The ABS provides a range of statistics on economic, social and environmental issueseconomic, social and environmental issues

Not all of ABS data well knownNot all of ABS data well known The ABS is looking to coordinate and The ABS is looking to coordinate and

integrate its activity with others in the field integrate its activity with others in the field of environment statistics, through of environment statistics, through CENRESS and the Environment IDPCENRESS and the Environment IDP

Contact detailsMichael VardonMichael Vardon

02 6252 734802 6252 7348

michaelmichael..vardonvardon@abs.@abs.govgov.au.au

Environment and Energy SectionEnvironment and Energy Section

ABS House BelconnenABS House Belconnen

Locked Bag 10 Belconnen 2616Locked Bag 10 Belconnen 2616