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"Sustainable Development" statistical office

From 10 July 2008, the Ministry for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea, responsible for Green Technologies and Climate Change Negotiations took the decision to bring together all of its departments dealing with observation and statistical information. The new Observation and Statistics Office (SOeS) combines the tasks that were previously carried out by:

  • the economics, statistics and forecasting office (SESP), for construction, housing and transport;
  • the French environmental institute (Ifen), for the environment;
  • the energy observatory, for energy and raw materials.

The SOeS organises the socioeconomic and statistical observation system for the environment and sustainable development, in association with the national, European and international bodies concerned.

Contents

Main missions

The observation and statistics office (SOeS) is responsible for collecting, producing and disseminating statistical information in the areas of the environment, energy, construction, housing and transport. It coordinates observation aiming to develop sustainable development indicators for public policies and produces indicators for the ministry. The SOeS is also responsible for implementing the Aarhus convention which defines the conditions of access to environmental information.

These analyses touch on a variety of areas such as choice of infrastructure, town and country planning, information on the environment, preparing and monitoring energy policy, etc.

Statistical production

The SOeS is part of the public system of statistical observation. For its areas of responsibility it produces statistics based on surveys planned in the CNIS programme, or from many other sources, especially administrative.

In the area of the environment, the SOeS compiles information systems on biodiversity, water, air or the impact of economic and human activities. It develops environmental indicators and assesses the social perception of environmental matters. This information is summarised for the report on the economy of the environment.

In the area of energy, the SOeS carries out compulsory statistical surveys and manages administrative sources concerned with energy production and distribution (electricity, gas, oil). It also gathers data collected by other bodies, among other things to produce the annual energy report.

In the area of housing and construction, it provides data for different databases (Sitadel, on construction permits; Géokit, on development and housing) and runs surveys on housing (sales of new dwellings, stock of rented social housing) and construction (monitoring companies, price index for housing maintenance and improvements).

In the area of transport, the SOeS monitors in particular the activity of companies, the working conditions of drivers, the flow of goods and passengers by mode of travel and also the different types of vehicle. It produces price indices on the transport of goods. The reference data are collected in databases (Sitra, FCA) and publications (memo).

The SOeS works with Insee to prepare the national accounts. They produce macro-economic costing studies which are presented in the form of reports to specialised commissions: Economy of the Environment Audit Board (CCEE), Housing Audit Board (CCL), National Transport Audit Board (CCTN).

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Studies and forecasting

The SOeS carries out analyses and statistical and economic summaries in its specialist areas.

It also provides support in monitoring some of the actions to which the "Grenelle Environment Forum" is committed. These studies consider the issues surrounding sustainable development. This may mean linking gas emissions with the greenhouse effect in buildings or transport with the economy, costing public expenditure for the prevention of natural hazards, or modelling energy scenarios.

Some studies are carried out in association with foreign institutions: European Union, United Nations, International Energy Agency.

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Dissemination

The results that they produce are all posted on the SOeS websites.

Since the databases are accessible via the internet, users can download customised tables. Contract services can be produced to order.

Statistical data is also distributed via a network of regional centres in the decentralised Meeddat offices.

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Status in institution

Within the General Sustainable Development Commission, the SOeS is the statistics department for the Ministry for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and the Sea, responsible for Green Technologies and Climate Change Negotiations.

It is located on two sites: Paris (energy, housing, construction, transport) and Orléans (environment).

It is made up of five sub-directorates:

  • sub-directorate for environmental information,
  • sub-directorate for methods and data for sustainable development,
  • sub-directorate for energy statistics,
  • sub-directorate for housing and construction statistics,
  • sub-directorate for transport statistics.

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