Why in News?
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the Strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts in India 2026–2030, a roadmap to strengthen environmental-economic accounting in India.
What is Environmental-Economic Accounting?
- It is a framework that integrates environmental and economic data to measure the relationship between natural resources, ecosystems and economic activities.
- It enables countries to value natural capital (forests, water, minerals, soil, biodiversity) alongside conventional economic output such as GDP.
- India follows the UN-endorsed System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), backed by the United Nations Statistical Commission.
Key Facts About the Strategy 2026–2030
About the Strategy
- Released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI.
- Provides a strategic roadmap for:
- Strengthening environmental accounting
- Improving data quality
- Addressing data gaps
- Expanding coverage of environmental accounts
- Envisaged as a dynamic, self-evolving guidance framework identifying priority areas, implementation milestones and potential data sources.
- Builds upon the earlier Strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts in India 2022–2026, which prioritised:
- Material Flow Accounts (MFAs)
- Ocean Accounts
- Energy Accounts
- Thematic accounts for biodiversity and urban areas
Framework Followed
- System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) – UN-endorsed framework linking environmental and economic statistics.
- Priority areas are guided primarily by:
- Green National Accounts in India – A Framework
- SEEA Central Framework (SEEA-CF)
Priority Areas (New & Expanded Accounts)
- Forests
- Minerals
- Soil resources
- Land
- Water
- Carbon stocks
- Environment-related activities
- Biodiversity
- Environmental statistics
Strategic Focus: Two Broad Areas
| Strategic Area | Focus |
|---|---|
| Area A – Quality Improvements, Coverage and Bridging Data Gaps | Improving quality, timeliness and comparability of environmental accounts; identifying data sources; standardising methodologies; strengthening data collection |
| Area B – Communication and Outreach | Improving awareness, accessibility and utilisation of environmental accounts among policymakers and stakeholders |
Alignment with National Accounting
- Complements the System of National Accounts (SNA) 2025, which strengthens recognition of natural resources and non-produced assets within national wealth accounting.
- Facilitates better integration of environmental and economic statistics.
Significance
- Evidence-Based Policymaking: Enables better assessment of the relationship between economic growth, natural resource utilisation and environmental sustainability.
- Strengthening State-Level Accounting: Serves as a guiding framework for States and Union Territories to initiate or strengthen environmental accounting.
- Sustainable Development: Supports natural resource management, identification of environmental data gaps and monitoring of sustainability-related policies and commitments (including SDGs).
- Better Wealth Measurement: Moves beyond GDP by incorporating depletion and degradation of natural capital into national accounts.
Institutional Architecture
- MoSPI is the nodal ministry for developing environmental-economic accounts in India.
- The National Statistics Office (NSO) functions under MoSPI and released the strategy.
- United Nations Statistical Commission endorses the SEEA framework globally.
Quick Revision Points
- Strategy period: 2026–2030; previous one covered 2022–2026.
- Framework: SEEA (Central Framework, SEEA-CF).
- Complementary framework: SNA 2025.
- Two strategic areas: A – Data quality/coverage; B – Communication/outreach.
- Accounts covered: forests, minerals, soil, land, water, carbon stocks, biodiversity, environment-related activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Which framework does India follow for environmental-economic accounting? India follows the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission.
Q2. Which Ministry is responsible for environmental-economic accounting in India? The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
Q3. What are the major areas covered by the 2026–2030 strategy? Forests, minerals, soil resources, land, water, carbon stocks, environment-related activities, biodiversity and environment statistics.
Q4. What was the Strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts 2022–2026? A strategic roadmap with focus areas including Material Flow Accounts, Ocean Accounts, Energy Accounts, and thematic accounts on Biodiversity and Urban Areas.
Q5. What is the purpose of the 2026–2030 Strategy? To provide a roadmap for expanding environmental accounting, addressing data gaps, identifying priority areas and establishing implementation milestones.