13 July 201113 July 2011

Partnerships to move forwardPartnerships to move forward

UN Statistics Division

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The UN Statistics Division has very limited resources and therefore seeks to build partnerships in order have a greater impact.

Examples:

The UNSD resources are multiplied with the participation of regional commissions and other partners.

I.Improving drinking water and sanitation services

II.Managing water

supply and demandLatin America:

Partnership with ECLAC for the implementation of SEEA-Water and IRWS. Workshops in Colombia and Ecuador with the participation of GIZ (formerly GTZ). The Andean Community will be included and Bolivia and Peru will also be invited.

Africa:

In partnership with UNECA and Statistics South Africa a workshop on SEEA-Water and IRWS was done for Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also provided an expert.

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The UN Statistics Division has very limited resources and therefore seeks to build partnerships in order have a greater impact.

Examples continued:

The UNSD is willing to partner with UNECE to develop accounts, statistics and indicators. It is possible to organize workshops and also to have teleconferences and e-mail discussions that could be useful for the EECCA countries.

II.Managing water

supply and demand

IV.Adapting to extreme

hydro-meteorological events

ESCWA region:

In partnership with ESCWA we plan to organize a workshop for countries of the region (Egypt, Palestine, Jordan…)

We can prepare a workshop for the EECCA countries in partnership with UNECE and perhaps also EEA.

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The IRWS has been sent for printing and translation into the six UN official languages.

By the end of 2011 or beginning of 2012 we should have the SEEA-Water and IRWS printed and translated.

The official edits of SEEA are being incorporated, then it will be sent for printing and translation.

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The SEEA is currently in global consultation. It will be submitted for adoption in February 2012 to the UN Statistical Commission. Once it is approved the SEEA-Water has to be revised to be fully compatible.

All the information is available on the UNSD website. It is important that the EECCA countries participate in the process.

IV.Adapting to extreme

hydro-meteorological events

13 July 201113 July 2011

Some Useful Concepts for the Construction of Water Indicators

Some Useful Concepts for the Construction of Water Indicators

UN Statistics Division

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Indicators should help to control the decision making cycle .

Different policy objectives or priorities might require different indicators. Some indicators might be useful globally, assuming there are common objectives.

Policies, plans,programs

Monitoring, Evaluation

Operation

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SEEA-Water and IRWS concepts

Most indicators are about water abstracted, since it directly affects the environment.

Concept Simplified description

Water abstracted Total amount of water taken from Inland Water Resources or sea (environment) by users (economic units). Designated by E in IRWS.

Water supplied Refers to the amount of water that is delivered by one economic unit to other economic unit (including households). It includes wastewater. Designated by F in IRWS.

Water received Refers to the amount of water that is actually received by one economic unit from another economic unit (including households). It includes wastewater. Designated by G in IRWS.

Water used Amount of water abstracted for own use plus the amount of water received from other economic units.

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SEEA-Water and IRWS concepts

It should be noted that even though agriculture uses a lot of water, it also returns an important proportion of water to the environment.

Concept Simplified description

Water returned Water returned to the environment. It includes wastewater. Designated by H in IRWS.

Water consumed Difference between water used and water returned to the environment. E.g. Hydroelectricity does not consume water. It is a “non-consumptive” or “in-stream” use.

Each economic activity has different impacts on inland water resources.

Water and sanitation

17%

Manufacturing and services 83%

Pollution (BOD5)10

Impact of the different activities on inland water resources

High

Low

HighLow

Water abstractions Water consumptionPollution(BOD5)

Industry and services

Agriculture CoolingWater and Sanitation Hydroelectricity

Value added

HighLow HighLow

High

Low

High

Low

Desired direction

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The ones who succeed are those who can shift to a new paradigm.

The ones who fail are those who remain hidebound and fixated on traditional ideas because they have proved successful in the past or because they can see no use for some new idea.

The development of environmental indicators to face the challenges of the 21st century probably require a shift of paradigm. We need to learn from the different disciplines and share knowledge.

The Swiss failed to patent or market the quartz watch, even though they invented it, because they couldn't shift paradigms.

Thank you!

Ricardo Martinez-Lagunes (martinezr@un.org)