Through natural capital accounting, governments, businesses, researchers, and the public seek to better understand the connections between nature and the economy. The System of Environmental-Economic Accounting serves as the internationally agreed framework to measure these interactions in a way that is consistent with the System of National Accounts. Currently, the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Central Framework (SEEA CF) is undergoing a formal update process spanning 2026 to 2028, led by the United Nations Committee of Experts on Environmental-Economic Accounting. The Institute for Policy Integrity submitted comments on the Guidance Note containing recommendations for improving the treatment of indicators in the SEEA CF. This Guidance Note is part of the second set of Guidance Notes prepared by the committee for this revision process.
Policy Integrity supported the recommendations put forward by the group of experts and provided further ideas on how to improve the SEEA CF. These suggestions highlighted that multiple types of users, not only policymakers, will use indicators derived from the accounts. Currently, the SEEA CF describes mostly uses related to policymaking, but businesses, researchers, and the general public will also use the data and indicators derived from the accounts. Explaining those uses can increase the supply and demand of environmental-economic accounts.