The Global Assessment of Environmental-Economic Accounting and Supporting Statistics is a survey administered under the auspices of the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental Economic Accounting (UNCEEA). The aim of the Global Assessment is to assess the progress of implementation of the SEEA in countries and to provide data for  SDG indicator 15.9.1(in particular, sub-indicator 15.9.1 (b)). The Committee defines implementation in three progressive stages: 1) compilation (including pilot compilation); 2) compilation and dissemination; and 3) regular compilation and dissemination. More information on how the Committee views implementation can be found here.

The Assessment has previously been administered in 2014, 2017, 2020, 2021, and 2022 either as a benchmark or abbreviated assessment. Benchmark assessments serve to gain a detailed understanding of national SEEA implementation, including institutional and funding arrangements, countries’ priorities and future plans for implementing accounts, technical assistance received and provided, and the use of the accounts. Benchmark assessments have been administered every three years (2014, 2017, 2020, and 2023).  

Abbreviated assessments are administered in non-benhmark years, and  seek to obtain updates from respondents to the previous benchmark assessment and only collect updated information on new implementation and compilation activities. The first abbreviated assessment was run in 2021.

According to the results of the benchmark 2023 Global Assessment , 90 countries have implemented the SEEA. Of these 90 countries, 67 (74 per cent) publish at least one account on a regular basis (stage III); 10 (11 per cent) publish their accounts on an ad-hoc basis (stage II); while 13 countries (14 per cent) compile, but do not yet publish their accounts (stage I). Out of the 90 countries compiling the SEEA, nearly all (89 out of 90) compile SEEA Central Framework (SEEA CF) accounts. In addition, nearly half (41) of these countries compile the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) and/or thematic accounts.  

Note: The boundaries and names shown, and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Dotted line represents approximately the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. Final boundary between the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been determined. A dispute exists between the Governments of Argentina and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).

The number of countries implementing the SEEA has increased over the years with the a brief periods of stagnation in implementation  between 2020 and 2023 due to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vast majority of countries implementing the SEEA compile and diseminates the accounts in a regular basis. 

Detailed country-by-country-by information from current and past global assessments:

Results of the 2006, 2008, 2014 and 2017 Global Assessments can be found here .

 

 

 

Global assessment archive: past years

Click here to learn more about the results of the 2006, 2008, 2014 and 2017 Global Assessments.

SEEA Implementation

A new definition of SEEA implementation was agreed by the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental-Economic Accounting following its 15th meeting. The 2020 Global Assessment provides information on SEEA implementation around the world according to this new definition.

SEEA Focal Points

The SEEA focal point(s) will coordinate country-level responses to the international community and serve as a first point of contact to addressing requests and questions related to the SEEA, distributing them to the relevant people in the country and ensure follow-up.