Using Indicators to Measure “Greening” Progress:

The Role of the EGSS FrameworkTan Ding Yong

Research and Partnerships Unit Economics and Trade Branch (ETB)

UNEP

14 May 2014

Presentation Outline

• Overview of UNEP’s indicator work• Why focus on the EGSS?• Recap of 2011 EGSS workshop• Looking ahead

Overview of UNEP’s indicator work

• Guide to using indicators

– UNEP (2014, forthcoming): Using Indicators For Green Economy Policymaking

– Sets out methodology for using indicators

Overview of UNEP’s indicator work

• Country-level projects

– Raising awareness of indicator concepts

– Pilots in Mauritius, Ghana, Mozambique, Uruguay

– Individual report on country experiences

– Synthesis report in October 2014 (expected)

Overview of UNEP’s indicator work

• Inclusive Green Economy Index– Objectives

• Measure progress towards a green economy • Galvanise public opinion

– Components• Inclusiveness• Greenness• Driving green growth

– Outstanding issues• Dashboard v index• Outcome v policy

Overview of UNEP’s indicator work

• Inclusive Wealth Report (2012)

– Shifts away from conventional metrics (e.g. GDP)

– Broader conception of wealth: natural, manufactured, human, and social capital

– Results from pilot: IWI per capita in 6 of 20 countries declined

Overview of UNEP’s indicator work

• Collaboration with international organisations– 2013: Scoping paper with

OECD, World Bank and GGGI under Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP)

– Different institutions use different indicator sets

– Moving towards a common indicators framework

Why the EGSS?

• GGKP framework to measure green economy– Indicator types

• Natural assets• Environmental and resource efficiency• Environmental quality of life• Socio-economic• Policies

• Economic opportunities

– Data readily available for most indicator types• Used by OECD, World Bank, GGGI and UNEP in various

indicator frameworks

Why the EGSS?

• Economic opportunities – Why is this important?

– Tangible benefit; easily understood

– Prospect of opportunities underpinned political support

Why the EGSS?

• EGSS framework: best measurement of economic opportunities– Starting point: Eurostat’s EGSS handbook

(2009)– Offers a measure of:

• Output• Gross Value Added• Employment• Exports

– Limitations• Not yet widespread• What should be covered?

2011 EGSS Workshop: Main points

• Key question: is EGSS suitable for measuring investment in and growth of green sectors?

• Examples from Netherlands, Austria, ROK, Mexico

• EGSS is a good starting point, but challenges need to be addressed:– Dynamic nature of RM activities– Classification and coverage– Practical issues

Looking ahead

• What needs to be done?– Encouraging wider application of EGSS

• How can EGSS be applied in a country?

– Learning and disseminating best practices• What are the lessons to be learnt from frontrunner

experiences?

– Chart a way forward for EGSS use• What needs to be done? How should we go about it?

– Identify specific areas of cooperation to expand the application beyond EU of the EGSS as part of the SEEA• What are the concrete projects we can look into?

Thank You

www.unep.org/greeneconomy