Demonstrating the practical application of the System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) in two of China’s industrial parks, the IDEEA Group found great potential for the adoption of environmental-economic accounting while underlining the importance of working with local experts who have access to data and local knowledge.
Our work with the AWS focussed on linking the SEEA to the AWS monitoring, evaluation and reporting process. We helped align AWS with the SEEA in a way that was (i) meaningful to AWS stakeholders and, (ii) supported AWS’s desire to demonstrate impacts in a way that can position AWS Water Stewards as good businesses and natural capital managers. It then applied this concept to demonstrate the feasibility and business case for the two industrial parks in China.
The SEEA’s ecosystem accounting perspective provided an important basis for the consistent mapping of catchments and sub-catchments and the delineation of different ecosystem types. This provided a clear basis for the definition of Important Water Related Areas (IWRA) which are a specific area of focus within the AWS Standard.
Download the full report Measuring And Communicating Impacts From AWS Water Stewardship: Applying The SEEA Framework To Two Industrial Parks In China.