Environmental Activity Accounts

Environmental activity accounts are one of the main elements of the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) which was adopted as an international statistical standard in 2012. These accounts record, in monetary terms, transactions between economic units that are considered environmental. Also included in this domain are taxes and subsidies related to the environment. In addition, descriptive statistics can be compiled that describe industries engaged in the production of environmental goods and services.

Statistics Canada collects data on environmental protection expenditures and on the industries that produce environmental goods and services; however, these data are not compiled into full accounts at this time. Environmental tax statistics are also produced annually.

For full details on the international standards for environment activity accounts and related flows, see Chapter IV of the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting: Central Framework (SEEA-CF).