In the literature of economic planning and policy making, having access to accurate and up-to-date statistics and information, which are the basis of decision-making, is a high priority among factors such as natural resources, financial resources, workforce, proper and progressive technology. Statistics and information have a significant role in the stages of planning (policies and goals), directing administrative affairs, and function assessment. The comprehensive system of environmental statistics is not needed just for assessing the current status of the environment, but also is essential for plan preparation, policy formulation, and sustainable development and the environment protection activities. Therefore, providing comprehensive environmental statistics would make it convenient to meet the Goals of the 5th Chapter of the 4th Development Program (Articles 58-71), In other words, according to the Article 50 of the Constitution, the Goals of the 5th Chapter of the 4th Development Program of the Country (Articles 58-71), Stockholm Declaration, Chapter 8 of the Agenda 21 and especially Part D of the same chapter, Chapter 40 of the Agenda 21, UNEP's, UNSD's and UNDSD's Recommendations, and Millennium Development Goals, organizing, providing and publishing environmental statistics seems to be necessary.

This paper discusses and reviews environmental statistics concepts, the essence of providing environmental statistics and indices, different types of data, statistics sources, environmental indices and indicators, environmental statistics data collection methods, different parts of environmental statistics, and different types of international frameworks of environmental statistics.