Ocean Accounts Diagnostic Tool

Download Attachment: Ocean Accounts Diagnostic Tool (Version 3, June 4, 2021)

Provided in anticipation for the Second Global Dialogue on Ocean Accounting to be held 20 April 2021 (7-10am NY Time TBC).

Ocean Accounts Diagnostic Tool

The Ocean Accounts Diagnostic Tool is designed to engage and guide structured dialogue among stakeholders – data users, producers and holders – for strategically implementing and advancing ocean accounts.

The approach applied in the ESCAP Ocean Accounts pilot studies has been to use the Diagnostic Tool outline as the structure of a more detailed scoping report. The scoping report may be coordinated by an independent consultant, the National Statistical Office (NSO) or by a government agency responsible for the ocean.

The Ocean Accounts Diagnostic Tool is designed for use in a workshop setting with prior and subsequent iteration. It is organized by seven diagnostic components plus the practical actions pertaining to each of these components:

1) Statement of Strategy and Policy Priorities

· Document national visions and priorities related to the ocean, the environment, biodiversity, sustainable development, and green/blue economy, including managing natural assets and flows of services from them.

· Link priorities to environmental concerns, such as pollution or overfishing.

2) Institutions

· Identify stakeholders including producers and users of related information (government agencies, academia, NGOs, international agencies), but also other groups such as civil society that can benefit from improved information.

· Identify relevant institutional mechanisms currently in place.

· Review the role of the National Statistical Office to highlight the advantages of integrating information and approaches across the National Statistical System.

3) Knowledge

· Identify key national data sources that can be used as a basis for further development.

4) Progress

· Understand what progress has already been made in developing ocean data, statistics and accounts as well as other environment statistics and accounts.

5) Context

· Identify related statistical development activities that could benefit (and benefit from) ocean accounts initiatives.

6) Priorities

· Determine the priorities for action to develop selected ocean accounts.

7) Constraints and opportunities

· Assess (a) constraints to implementing specific ocean accounts and (b) opportunities for immediate actions to address these constraints.