Statistical infrastructure Task Force recommendations

1. Statistical infrastructureTask Force recommendations Leo Kolttola Second meeting on climate change related statistics for producers and users 8 – 9 October, Geneva, room XI Session 3

2. WHAT IS statistical infrastructure? • There is no common definition • The Australian Bureau of Statistics defines statistical infrastructure as tools that support the operation of a statistical system • It can be said to include everything else but statistics themselves – it answers the question how? • In this analysis we include: legislation; standards and classifications; frameworks and integration; statistical methods; organizational structures; quality assurance and guidelines; knowledge and capacity; and cooperation networks • This presentation will first explain the challenges and then give a summary of the recommendations Leo Kolttola

3. Legislation • National legislation has a key role in: • Facilitating effective cooperation between agencies, especially those belonging to the national emission inventory system and • Providing a legal basis for exchange of data • Climate research requires sometimes access to microdata and also detailed geo-referenced statistical data – this may be difficult to match with confidentiality requirements of national legislation • Analysis of climate change related issues requires linking data from different sources, which adds up to the confidentiality problems and causes problems of access to data Leo Kolttola

4. Standards and ClassificationS • Need to find ways to link between inventories and other statistics – there is a mismatch between classifications • Would enable integrated analysis of the economic, social and environmental aspects of GHG emissions. • Statistical classifications, definitions and quality criteria need to be adapted regularly to include new aspects relevant to climate change • Common definitions for climate change related statistics should be agreed upon • Methodological guidelines for data collection and compilation should be designed for climate change related statistisc Leo Kolttola

5. Frameworks and Integration • NSOs need to mainly rely on existing guiding frameworks for GHG inventories rather than expecting many changes. • Synergies could be found by reviewing connections of existing statistical frameworks with climate change and GHG inventories • Energy statistics, national accounts, environmental accounts, air emissions accounts and the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA)… • For example, statistical business registers could be useful for producing climate change related statistics if they included a geo-reference for all relevant data. • In the longer run, methodological guidelines or a framework for data collection and compilation on climate change related statistics should be developed. Leo Kolttola

6. Statistical Methods • The statistical system should be engaged in the methodology development led by the IPCC and UNFCCC so that existing statistics could be used fully. • Can help to evaluate if the needed source data in a proposed methodology are available or possible to develop with reasonable costs. • NSOs could work with inventory compilers to make activity data available earlier to help develop timelier emission estimates • Producing climate change related statistics might require adoption of new statistical methodologies by NSOs – geographic information systems (GIS) • Merging different types of data from various sources would place major requirements for the capacity and inter-functionality of IT systems and wide access to data • The data linkage techniques and methods of data reconciliation would require further improvements. Leo Kolttola

7. Organizational Structures and Production Resources • Sometimes duplicate reporting exists between inventory compilers and NSOs • Leads to unnecessarily high costs of data collection • Additional burden for respondents • A contact person, or a counterpart for inventory compilers or climate change issues is often missing at NSOs. • Climate change related statistics may call for organizational changes in statistical offices. • Traditionally NSOs are organized either by 'subject matter' (economic statistics) or 'function' (data collection), or a mix of the two.  • Development of cross-cutting areas, such as climate change, requires an organization that supports collaboration across different structural units and subject areas, and is focused on user needs. Leo Kolttola

8. Quality Assurance and Guidelines • Different quality reviewing procedures guide the production of GHG inventories and official statistics. • NSOs could be involved in data quality issues of the GHG inventories, especially with activity data they provide. • It may be difficult for the user to assess the quality of climate information as it comes from various sources. • Regularly updated information and time series on climate change related issues are rarely available • The strong professional independence of NSOs in most countries could help to increase trust in climate change related data and thus support the climate debate. • Could some of the climate change related statistics be included into the framework of official statistics to ensure their quality?  Leo Kolttola

9. Knowledge and Capacity 1 • NSOs have some important knowledge that would be useful for GHG inventories, but would need to develop new capacity • Good expertise in activity data could help with quality • NSOs could check quality by using the many detailed data sources they have • Some NSOs should improve awareness of the GHG inventory data needs • There is need for capacity building especially in countries who have not yet produced annual GHG inventories. • NSOs have an international network for sharing good practices in statistical development  that could be useful. • There are currently no recognized good practices for NSO role in GHG inventory compilation. Leo Kolttola

10. Knowledge and Capacity 2 • NSSs already produce a considerable quantity of data relevant for climate change. However, most statistical offices do not mention climate change as one of the statistical topics they work with. • Measuring climate change requires specific knowledge that many NSOs currently lack. • Need to consider how to build credibility as a player in the field of science-based climate analysis at NSOs that are relative new-comers Leo Kolttola

11. Cooperation Networks • Good cooperation is essential in general, and for NSOs and inventory compilers to find ways to better respond to the information needs and improve efficiency of work. • Closer cooperation is needed at international level too. • The possibilities to improve the links between the concepts and classifications should be examined. • To be consulted in the methodology development, NSOs would have to be represented by an international organization, such as the United Nations Statistical Commission, to liaise with the UNFCCC and IPCC. (10) • There is a need to improve international comparability of climate change related statistics • Statistical capacities of countries to measureclimate change related phenomena needs tobe enhancedin collaboration  Leo Kolttola

12. Summary of recommendations on statistical infrastructure • National Statistical Offices (NSOs) should review classification systems, registers, definitions and statistical frameworks to see that the needs related to climate change analysis are appropriately addressed • Consider the needs of climate change analysis in future revisions of statistical standards and frameworks • How to tackle the obstacles to linking between statistics? Leo Kolttola

13. Summary of recommendations on statistical infrastructure • New kinds of expertise and ability to adopt new methodologies for producing climate change related statistics need to be developed • Traditionally, statisticians master narrow topics – need to acquire understanding of natural science and knowledge that cuts across many areas • Better understanding of the relevance and use of existing statistical data for climate change • Better skills in linking datasets • Adopt new methodologies(geo-referencing etc.) Leo Kolttola

14. Summary of recommendations on statistical infrastructure • Organizational changes may be needed in NSOs to support the production of climate change related statistics • First: person(s) be assigned the responsibility of climate change related statistics and data for GHG inventories • Organizational structure of NSOs may require modernizing to support production of climate change related statistics that cut across the statistical system • Sufficient resources should be earmarked for measuring climate change related issues Leo Kolttola