ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with one part of the over-all framework of environment statistics proposed, namely, statistics on materials/energy balances, proposing draft guidelines for the compilation of such statistics. It is designed on the same principles as the System of National Accounts, and is entirely compatible with the national accounts. The formal use of materials/energy balances in constructing and implementing environmental assessment and/or forecasting models of various types will be discussed. Optimization models may be expected to come into increasing use for purposes of environmental management. Natural resources could be subdivided into renewable and non-renewable categories with separate tables for each. There are two significant additions: physical stocks and flows, including commodities and wastes; and explicit materials/energy transformations, that is, processes. The chapter contains a short note on the assessment of environmental damages and abatement costs.
