SHORT COURSE
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING
2–11 December 2014 (8 working days)
Environmental accounting is increasingly being used to support the development and analysis of government policy. This professional development short course is designed to provide mid-level government officials charged with developing, implementing or using environmental accounts with a broad understanding of the accounts and how they may be used in public policy.
The course has been designed to assist with the implementation of the World Bank’s Wealth Accounting and Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES) as well as the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). The course has been made possible with funding from Australian Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
No specific prior knowledge is assumed but it is expected that participants have worked professionally within or with government in disciplines related to environmental accounting, including environmental science, ecological economics, natural resource management, national accounting and statistics. Participants should have, or expect to have, some responsibilities related to the development, implementation or use of environmental accounts. The course is conducted in English with no translation and is delivered intensively over eight days, supplemented with pre-course reading and a post-course assignment. All assessment is in English.
The course draws on expertise from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and The Australian National University and other institutions. It covers the theoretical and practical fundamentals of environmental accounting and places this into an overall public policy framework. Examples are drawn from around the world, and information resources are discussed and explored in practical workshops. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and are invited to use their own data for shaping into accounts.
Environmental accounting can show how different sectors of the economy affect the environment and vice versa, and point to possible public policy interventions. As the understanding of environment-economy interactions increases, the appropriate policy responses should become clearer.
Content
The course will cover the key questions:
- What is environmental accounting and why is it important?
- How can environmental accounting shape public policy?
- Which accounts are most relevant in particular circumstance?
- What practical considerations need to be addressed to make environmental accounting an enduring reality in countries?
Current policies and strategies developed to address particular problems, such as green growth, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and the range of economic instruments and legal instruments that could be used in response to particular issues, will be discussed. In particular, the relationship between emerging policy tools and the legal and administrative structures required to facilitate implementation of accounts and effective policy responses is also considered.
The course combines lecture and workshop sessions on particular aspects of the accounts with an emphasis on participant-led inquiry, integrated with hands-on practical investigation of information and data resources on different types of accounts. Both expert engagement and peer learning and networking are emphasised.
For the theme based accounts – water, land, energy, carbon, ecosystems, minerals, etc. – sessions will cover key concepts and measurement, together with data sources and methods. Practical exercises will be conducted to consolidate understanding.
The course has two field trips: one focussed on water accounting and the other on measuring the condition of ecosystems. Participants will need to bring field clothing, including appropriate footwear (no sandals) and hats. Sunscreen and water will be provided.
Learning outcomes
On successfully completing of the course participants will be able to: - explain the key features of environmental accounting
- understand the range of information sources needed to compile accounts
- identify issues to which environmental accounts could be applied
- populate basic accounting tables with existing information
- know where to find help and additional information on the concepts, data sources and methods
In addition to knowledge of the accounts and their uses, course participants will develop the skills needed to manage a team with diverse knowledge and experience that is needed to produce and use environmental accounts.
Assessment
The course will be assessed. Students will have to prepare and deliver a presentation on environmental accounting, complete field and group work, sit a quiz, and submit a short written assignment. All assessment will be in English. Further details of assessment will be provided during the course.
Presenters
- CarlObst is based at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne. He was the Editor of the SEEA and was formerly head of the ABS National Accounts Branch.
- Dr Michael Vardon is Director of the Centre of Environment Statistics at the ABS and a Visiting Fellow at the Fenner School. He was a member of the SEEA Editorial Boards and an Advisor to the United Nations on environmental accounting.
- Prof Janette Lindesay is Deputy Director and Professor of Climatology at the Fenner School. She is a climatologist with research interests in the science of climate variation and change and in climate change impacts.
- Prof David Lindenmayer is Professor of Ecology at the Fenner School. He is a leading conservation biologist, contributing significantly to the understanding of biodiversity, both within Australia and around the world.
- Prof Stephen Dovers is Director of the interdisciplinary Fenner School of Environment and Society at ANU. The School explores integrated policy and management across traditionally separate policy domains, such as the links between climate, energy and water issues.
- Prof Robert Costanza is Chair in Public Policy at the Crawford School. His research integrates the study of humans and the rest of nature to address research, policy and management issues at multiple time and space scales. He is also Editor in Chief of the journal Solutions.
- Dr Judith Ajani is an economist at the Fenner School. Her research includes building environmentally and economically coherent policy frames and the development of carbon accounts for use in climate change mitigation policy.
- Dr Phil Gibbons’ research at the Fenner School focuses on developing ways to mitigate impacts of development on biodiversity, including development of decision-support tools for use in the regulatory environment.
- MarkEigenraam is an economist and manager of the Ecomarkets programme at the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industry and was lead author of the Victorian Experimental Ecosystem Accounts.
- John Power is the acting Assistant Director at the ABS responsible for WAVES coordination as well as ecosystem accounting in the southern Palawan of the Philippines as well as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
- Steven May is the Assistant Director at the ABS responsible for the production of ABS Water Accounts.
- PeterComisari is an Assistant Director at the Centre of Environment Statistics at the ABS, responsible for leading environmental accounting research.
- Alister Nairn is the Director of Geography at the ABS and is responsible for the production of ABS land accounts.
Venue: Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Catering:Lunch, morning and afternoon tea are provided as well as an opening function and conference dinner
Coordinator: Dr Michael Vardon,
Fee: AUD$4,390
Places are limited and early registration is recommended. Registrations close at 5.00pm on 7November 2014. Depending on demand a second course may be run at a later date.
The course fee does not include accommodation, breakfast or evening meals on course days or any meals on the weekend.
To enrol contact:
VeenitaVido
T+61 (0)2 6125 6950
John Power
E
T +61 (0)2 6252 6205
ANU-ABS Short Course: Introduction to Environmental Accounting – Course Information Page 1 of 4