SEEA 2003: chapter 5

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SEEA 2003 chapter 5 Accounting for economic
activities and products related to the
environment and chapter 6 Accounting for other
environmentally related transactionsPresentatio
n for the LG 26-30 March, JohanesburgNancy
Steinbach, Viveka Palm SCBJulio Cabeça Eurostat
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Headlines
Introduction and history
4 areas of discussion
Environmental taxes and subsidies
Permits to access the resources and emission
permits
Classification of natural resource management
accounts
Environmental goods and services sector
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Introduction

• Decision process
• UNCEEA in NY August 2005
• London Group meeting in NY June 2006
• Ideas for chapter 5 and 6 of the SEEA 2003
• The chapters cover related issues
• Most issues are well described
• Minor issues needs clarification (taxes,
  subsidies, permits)
• Some issues need further work (environmental
  sector, natural resource management expenditure )
• Make two chapters into one.

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4 areas of discussion

• Environmental taxes and subsidies Are broadly
  described in SEEA 2003. OECD and Eurostat tested
  a definition of environmental taxes that was
  adopted in 2001. Subsidies are not yet dealt
  with.
• Permits to access the resources and emission
  permits Permits within the national accounts and
  balance of payments are open for debate at the
  moment with the current SNA revision.
• Classification of natural resource management
  accounts The area has of yet not a
  classification.
• Environmental goods and services industry Not
  well described in the SEEA 2003. CA and Europe
  are currently working actively within this field.

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Environmental taxes and subsidies

• Taxes are dealt with in chapter 6, part B.
• Proposal No changes needed in part B.
• Subsidies are dealt with in chapter 5 and 6
  depending on the framework it is related to.
• The SEEA presents
• EPEA type subsidies
• Income/capital accounts by environmental
  subsidies and non-environmental subsidies.
• Proposal Harmonise into one sub-chapter dealing
  with environmentally related subsidies.

6
Property rights and permits
Property rights are dealt with in chapter
6. Proposal no changes needed Emission trading
permits (eg. Carbon trading rights) Especially
the issue of carbon trading rights needs some
further discussion. The SNA revision is currently
discussing the area. No final decision is taken,
however they recommend to follow SEEA 2003
(non-financial, non-produced asset). Proposal
Keep up-dated with SNA revision and adjust text
accordingly.
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Classification of natural resource management
accounts
SEEA 2003 describes briefly natural resource
management and exploitation activities.
Proposal long term development and should not
be included in the revised SEEA. Eurostats TF
on government and specialised producers EPE
recommends the WG on Environmental expenditure
statistics to take up the work on natural
resource management accounts.
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Environmental goods and services sector

• SEEA 2003 is in chapter 5 part 4 briefly
  describing The environment industry.
• Canada and Europe is working extensively on this
  topic at the moment.
• Proposal long term development and should not be
  included in the revised SEEA.
• Eurostat is currently developing a compilation
  guide
• with the help of a Task Force. Publishing date
  foreseen
• next year (third quarter 2008).

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Summary

• Chapter 5 and 6 cover related issues.
• Main texts are well written and most areas well
  established.
• Harmonise chapter 5 and 6 into one chapter
• Some discussions needed for subsidies, permits
  and licences.
• Long term issues not to be resolved within time
  frame natural resource managment and
  environmental goods and services sector.