UN Statistical Commission side event: From experimental ocean accounts to SEEA-Ocean

25 February 2021 | Virtual

This side event was organized by UN-ESCAP, the Government of Canada, UNSD, the World Bank and GOAP. The side event started with an ‘Around the Globe’ panel discussion with representatives of data producers (national statistical offices), data users (line ministries) and academia from Australia, Canada, South Africa, Thailand and the United Kingdom. The discussion highlighted the high policy demand for ocean accounts and the importance of progressing methodological guidance for ocean accounting from the perspective of decision-makers, statisticians and scientists. The importance of collaborative efforts and the use of big data were raised, as well as the need for interaction between the terrestrial and marine space, and a modular approach to implementation of the accounts. The event was attended by over 140 participants.