20.09.2024
The Bureau of National Statistics launches the publication of new accounts of system environmental-economic accounting
The Bureau of National Statistics is launching three new accounts within the system environmental-economic accounting, which will allow for a more in-depth analysis of data on the use of natural resources and their impact on the environment.
Accounts of system environmental-economic accounting are a multi-purpose conceptual framework for understanding the interactions between the environment and the economy, and for describing changes in the stock of environmental assets. Previously, the Bureau published data on three accounts - an air emissions account, an environmental protection expenditure account, and an environmental taxes account.
Data on the three new accounts can be found in the "National accounts statistics" section on the stat.gov.kz website, which include material flow account, asset account for mineral and energy resources, and forest resources account.
The material flow account provides an idea of the extraction of natural resources, their trade, as well as waste disposal and emissions. These indicators are important indirect parameters for assessing the overall burden on the environment and the impact of the national economy. Within the framework of this account, an estimate of the SDG indicator 8.4.2 "Total domestic material consumption" was obtained. For Kazakhstan, this indicator for 2021 was 623.8 million tons (the amount of materials used in the national economy). Materials include such types of raw materials and products as biomass, metal ores, non-metallic minerals and fuel.
The second asset account for mineral and energy resources provides information on their stocks and changes in stocks between reporting periods. The publication reflects data on the main types of mineral and energy resources: coal, oil, gas, iron ores, gold and etc. For example, coal stocks at the end of 2022 amounted to 28 908.9 million tons, oil – 2 942.6 million tons, iron ores – 10 764.6 million tons, manganese ores - 400.3 million tons. The publication provides dynamics for 2014-2022.
The third forest resources account contains data on the area of forest land and its changes during the year. The account focuses on changes in forest area due to deforestation and afforestation. At the end of 2022, the area of forests and wooded lands in Kazakhstan amounted to 13.7 million hectares, of which 5.9% were forest plantations, 11.8% were virgin forests, and 82.3% were other naturally regenerated forests.
The data are compiled taking into accounting the recommendations of OECD and UNEP experts in accordance with international guidelines for the system of environmental-economic accounting. The accounts will be published on an annual basis.
