Lessons from Water Accountingfor the Energy Statistics Compilers

Manual

Michael Vardon

6th Olso Group Meeting 2-6 May 2011

Canberra

Lessons

• There are many audiences• Do not for get the basics• Emphasise the basics• Output tables are not usually good

for data collection• Allow for change

Information

Data users

Audiences for information: from data to indicators

Data items

Environmental Accounts and other

aggregations

Indicators

Decision makers & wider public

Managers and analysts

Researchers

Headline indicators

Indicators on specific subjects or industries

Audiences

• The audiences vary in terms of background– Compilers in statistics offices as well

as other agencies– Mandate and institutional

arrangements of compilers– Level of experience of individuals

doing collection – History and sophistication of agency

Basic statistical process are important and must be emphasised

Dimensions of data quality*:

Relevance – does the data answer the questions?

Accuracy – how closely does the data represent the real word?

Timeliness – is that data available in time for decision making?

Accessibility – how are the data accessed?

Interpretability – can the data be easily interpreted and used?

Coherence – how does the data relate to other data?

*Source: Statistics Canada:

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?lang=eng&catno=12-586-X

Important issues to emphasise for new compilers• Institutional arrangements• Process of development

– (Including identifying and acknowledging existing data providers and identifying key questions not currently addressed by data)

• Importance of data collection strategy

• Key data collection considerations– Frame creation and maintainance– Design of collection instrument– Data collection is on-going

It is not the first time you produce data that is important

Area Irrigated, Australia - 1920-2005

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

1920

1923

1926

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1941

1944

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1950

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1962

1965

1968

1971

1974

1977

1980

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'000 H

ecta

res

Output tables are not usually suitable for data collection

Australian experience with business surveys•Good form design is essential (see Dillman)•Use language and concepts familiar to those expected to complete form

– Do not expect them to understand the concepts required to complete energy balances or energy accounts

Diagrams can be helpful

• In explain concepts in manuals and could be useful in data collection and presentation

Territory

A.1. Surface water A .1.1. Artific ial reservoirs A .1.2. Lakes A .1.3. Rivers A .1.4. Wetlands A .1.5. Snow , ice and glaciers

Soil water

A .2. GroundwaterD.2.

B.1. Precipitation C.1. Evapotranspiration

C.2.2. Outflow to the sea

B.2. Inflow from neighboring territories C.2.1. Outflow to neighboring territories

D.1.

D.3. D.4.

10 Lessons from Environment Accounting for Improving Biodiversity Monitoring

Lesson 1 – Build on the pastLesson 2 – Must have sound institutional arrangements and legal basisLesson 3 – Learn by doing and accept what you haveLesson 4 – Regular and on-going beats infrequent and ad hocLesson 5 – Need to build capacity

Lesson 6 – Integration of biodiversity data with other data is criticalLesson 7 – Determining what to measure and how to measure itLesson 8 – Deciding how much is enough for effective monitoringLesson 9 – Ability to access and interpret dataLesson 10 – Defining the questions and flexibility

Inland Water Resources

Water SupplySewerage

HouseholdsElectricityMining Manufacturing*Agriculture

Other industries

? ?

?934448412334?

?

? ?

722

715 336 44841 320 172

3391433267

3626

944228

?

?

?

515

Australia – physical water supply and use, 2008-09 (GL)

1594

79

9336

103 9277 87

?

2

The SeaThe Sea

1163

Key

WastewaterWaterReuse water

33

* Note shown is the supply of distributed water and reuse water by mining and manufacturing, 25 GL in total.

Need to be able to innovate and have access to improved methods

• A hard copy publication is not the end of the process

• A knowledge base for recording country practices

• A forum for on-going interaction of technical experts