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System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) A general introduction

System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) A general introduction. Training Workshop on SEEAW (New York, 13-17 November 2006). Outline. Integrated Water Resources Management What is the SEEAW? Modules of the SEEAW Policy applications of the SEEAW Future work

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System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) A general introduction

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  1. System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW)A general introduction Training Workshop on SEEAW (New York, 13-17 November 2006)

  2. Outline • Integrated Water Resources Management • What is the SEEAW? • Modules of the SEEAW • Policy applications of the SEEAW • Future work • Implementation of the SEEAW in countries • Outcome of the User-producer Conference

  3. Water – some considerations • A “Single” Resource – has no substitute • A Limited Resource • A Scarce Resource (or is it?) • Has Social, Economic, and Environmental Value • Poor water management and water shortages can lead to disease, malnutrition, reduced economic growth, social instability, conflict, and environmental disaster.

  4. Global Freshwater 87% Not Accessible 13% Accessible (0.4% of global) The Global Water Budget Global Water 97% Seawater 3% Freshwater

  5. Current situation • Resources are scarce • Demands are outstripping supplies • Environmental/Ecological issues are serious • Policy and institutional issues are complicated • Current approach is sectoral and fragmented • Decreasing per-capita availability • Degrading water quality • Increasing competition/conflict within sectors and within society • Urban versus agriculture • Haves versus have nots • Upstream versus downstream • National versus international • Increasing competition/conflict with the environment

  6. Changes in thinking The Dublin principles (1992) • Water is a single, finite resource • Water management and development should include stakeholders • Water is an economic good • Women play a central role in management and conservation of water The Dublin Principles have served as guide for the global water dialogue

  7. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) IWRM is based on the understanding that water resources are an integral component of the ecosystem, a natural resource and a social and economic good. (WWDR) IWRM is a coordinating framework for integrating sectoral needs, water and water-related policy, resource allocation, and management within the context of social, economic, and environmental development objectives. IWRM requires and information system to base its decisions => Water accounting

  8. Why IWRM? • Globally accepted and makes good sense • Key element in national water policy • Incorporates social and environmental considerations directly into policy and decision making • Directly involves the stakeholders • Is a tool for optimizing investments under tight financing climate

  9. Schematic of the IWRM Process • Stakeholder Input • Donor Input • Other Input Country Development Objectives Key Water & Water-related Policies/Inst. Resources Assessment & Analysis Review & Evaluation Use Assessment & Analysis Resource Allocation Strategy Implementation & Monitoring Resource Development & Management Plan

  10. The SEEAW and IWRM Key aspects in IWRM that can be addressed by the SEEAW: • Allocating water efficiently and improve efficiency • Understanding the impact of water management on all users • Getting the most value from money from investment infrastructure • Linking water availability to its uses • Providing a standardized information system which harmonizes different sources, is accepted by the stakeholders and is used for the derivation of indicators • Getting stakeholders involved in decision-making

  11. What is the SEEAW? The SEEAW is a satellite system to the System of National Accounts  • Links economic accounts with hydrological information • Uses standard definitions, concepts, classifications common to economic accounts • Is expected to become a statistical standard • Allows for the derivation of coherent and consistent indicators

  12. What is the SEEAW? (2) Complements the framework with a set of tables • Standard tables: Minimum data set that all countries are encouraged to compile • Supplementary tables: Disaggregation of the standard tables, including items that should be considered by countries if of interest and data is available

  13. SEEAW as Statistical Standard • User-Producer Conference (22-24 May 2006) endorsed the SEEAW and recommended its adoption as the international standard for water statistics • UN-Water (21 August 2006) has “endorsed” the SEEAW • The SEEAW will be submitted for approval by the UN Statistical Commission (March 2007) through the UNCCEA

  14. Why the SEEAW? • Water has been high on the policy agenda • Increasing number of countries implemented water accounts but little harmonization of practices • Revision of the SEEA (started in 1998) was the motivation to harmonize

  15. Modules of the SEEAW (1) Physical water supply and use tables Provide physical information by industries and households on water abstraction, use and supply within the economy and returns in the environment Emission accounts Provide physical information by industries and households on emissions of substances into water resources through wastewater discharges. Hybrid and economic accounts Provide information on the cost associated with water use and supply and on users fees paid. Links between physical flows of water with the economic accounts, financing

  16. Modules of the SEEAW (2) Asset accounts Provide information on the stock of water resources in the environment and the changes that occur during the accounting period (abstraction, returns, precipitation, evapotranspitration, etc.) Quality accounts Provide information on the quality of water in the environment Valuation of water resources Provides a review of valuation techniques and their consistency with the 1993 SNA valuation. No recommendations

  17. Policy application of the SEEAW (1) Derivation of a coherent and consistent set of indicators, for example: • Water productivity/intensity  Hybrid Accounts • Water use over renewable resources  Asset Accounts and Physical SUT • Per capita water use  Physical SUT • Water use by industry  Physical SUT

  18. Temporal and spatial issues • Reconciliation of economic and hydrological data River basin vs. administrative region Accounting vs. hydrological year • Inclusion of temporal and spatial variability of water in the accounts Seasonal vs. annual accounts Long-term water cycle

  19. Future work (1) Methodological improvements • Social dimension • Quality accounts • Water valuation • Data quality framework

  20. Future work (2) Implementation and promotion • Development of toolkits (country practices, training material, promotion material, dissemination tools and practices) • In-depth analysis of lessons learnt from country experiences in the implementation and use of the SEEAW • Promotion of the SEEAW within the users’ community at national and international level

  21. Implementation of the SEEAW • Worldwide about 25 countries have implemented (part of) water accounts • 17 developed countries (Australia, New Zealand and 14 EU countries) • 8 developing countries (Botswana, Chile, Mexico, Namibia, the Philippines, South Africa, Turkey, the Republic of Moldova) • Few have established the institutional arrangements for the implementation (e.g. China, Dominican Republic, Morocco) • Several countries have shown interest in implementing the SEEAW

  22. Outcome of the User-Producer Conference on Water Accounting for IWRM (Voorburg, 22-24 May 2006)

  23. Objectives of the Conference • Present the draft System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) • Seek users’ endorsement of the SEEAW as THE hydrological framework for IWRM • Promote the SEEAW implementation • Establish a Roundtable on Water Accounting under the auspices of the UNCEEA

  24. Main conclusions The Conference: • Recognized that the SEEAW provides THE much-needed conceptual framework for organizing hydrological and economic information in support of IWRM • Recommended it become a statistical standard • Recognized the timeliness of the SEEAW • Stressed the need to educate the users (little is known in the water world)

  25. Main conclusions (2) The Conference also recognized that the SEEAW: • Fosters the improvement of basic data by allowing the identification of data gaps and overlaps • Provides a framework for deriving indicators – majority of WWDR indicators can be derived from SEEAW • Can improve inter-institutional cooperation

  26. Agreed actions • Cooperation between WWAP, GWP and UNSD • Training course by UNESCO-IHE • Integrate SEEAW standard table in IWRM programmes by World Bank (pilot projects) • Establishment of twinning projects • Translation of the SEEAW in other languages by countries • Promotion of the SEEAW to users (through the development of brochures, presentations at international conferences, etc.)

  27. Roundtable on Water Accounting Under the auspices of the UNCEEA • Objectives: • Promotion of SEEAW • Advancement of implementation • Work programme • Development of toolkits • Country practices • Training programmes/material • Promotion material • Communication tools • Implementation

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