Ministry for an Ecological Transition and Territorail cohesion (France)

General commisionner for sustainable development

Data and Statistical Studies Department

CGDD Orléans

5 route d'Olivet

CS 16105

45061 cedex 1

Air emissions accounts (AEA) record flows of gaseous and particulate materials emitted into the atmosphere as a result of economic activity.

AEA are a subset of environmental-economic accounts. They offer a detailed breakdown for 64 emitting economic activities (NACE), plus households, as defined in the national accounts of EU countries. They are aligned with economic statistics and GDP. These features make them suitable for integrated environmental-economic analyses and modelling – for example of 'carbon footprints' and climate-change modelling scenarios.

National Statistical Institutes (NSI) submit AEA to Eurostat through a mandatory annual data collection. The data collection includes an electronic questionnaire and this quality report.

The AEA dataset has the following dimensions:

1)           Air pollutant: Emissions to air of the following gaseous and particulate substances are collected (greenhouse gases, air pollutants):

Carbon dioxide without emissions from biomass (CO2),

Carbon dioxide from biomass (Biomass CO2)*,

Nitrous oxide (N2O), Methane (CH4),

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs),

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),

Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) including nitrogen trifluoride (NF3),

Nitrogen oxides (NOx),

Non-methane volatile organic compounds, (NMVOC),

Carbon monoxide (CO),

Particulate matter < 10μm (PM10),

Particulate matter < 2,5μm (PM2,5),

Sulphur dioxide (SO2),

Ammonia (NH3)

2)           Geopolitical entity: EU Member States, EFTA Countries, Candidate Countries etc.

3)           Economic activities: include 64 production activities (classified by NACE rev.2 A*64), and households’ consumption (3 sub-classes).

4)           Time: reference year for which air emissions are reported

5)           Unit: tonnes and thousand tonnes

The data refer to national economies as defined in the system of national accounts. Greenhouse gases and air pollutants emitted by resident units representing the national economy are covered.

Conceptually AEA belong to the international system of environmental economic accounting (SEEA-Central Framework). Furthermore, AEA is one of several physical modules of Eurostat's programme on European environmental economic accounts. It is covered by Regulation (EU) No.691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts.

AEA are closely related to concepts and definitions of national accounts. Most notably, they follow the residence principle, i.e. they record emissions related to resident unit's activities, regardless where those occur geographically.

Further methodological guidelines are provided in various publications by Eurostat (see Eurostat website > Environment > Methodology, heading: 'Air emissions accounts').

Data refer to emissions by resident economic units in the sense of SEEA CF 2012 and National Accounts (ESA), including households.

The national economy is as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and National Accounts (ESA), i.e. all economic activities undertaken by resident units.

The reference area is the economic territory as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and National Accounts (ESA). A unit is said to be a resident unit of a country when it has a centre of economic interest in the economic territory of that country, that is, when it engages for an extended period (1 year or more) in economic activities in that territory.

By following this residence principle, the Air Emission Accounts record emissions from resident units' activities, regardless where they occur. This is the main conceptual difference to emission inventories for greenhouse gases (UNFCCC) and air pollutants (CLRTAP).

The period covered is from 2008 to 2021 for all substances.

Not applicable because AEA are not reported as indices.

The unit of measure is tonnes or thousand tonnes.

F-gases (HFC, PFC, SF₆ and NF₃) are reported in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.

SO_X are reported in tonnes of SO₂ equivalents, and NO_X are reported in tonnes of NO₂ equivalents.

The data refer to calendar years.

Air emissions accounts (AEA) are legally covered by Regulation (EU) 691/2011on European Environmental Economic Accounts.

Not applicable at national level.

Statistical secrecy is defined by french law n° 51-711 of 7 June 1951.

In the case of individuals, it is forbidden to publish data that would allow the identification of a physical person.

For companies, no results are published if it concerns less than three companies, nor any data for which a single company represents 85% or more of the value obtained.

AEAs are published each year on the websites of the Data and Statistical Studies Department.

We do not have a release calendar. Data are usually published at the end of the year.

The release calendar is not published on our website.

Data are published on the website of the statistical service. These data are publicly available to all Internet users.

Data are disseminated annually.

The data, presented in Namea format, can be downloaded from the internet. The files are in csv format. There are no restrictions on their use. A publication (4 pages) accompanies the data. It presents the specificities of AEAs and the potential uses of the data.

There is no news releases related to AEA.

National data are published on the website of the statistical department of the Ministry of Ecological Transition. Publication usually takes place at the end of the year.

The characteristics of the AEA inventory are described in the web article: https://www.statistiques.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/inventaire-des-emissions-de-gaz-effet-de-serre-et-des-polluants-atmospheriques-par-branches

The AEA inventory and its potential uses are also presented in the following publication: Émissions de polluants atmosphériques et de gaz à effet de serre « Namea-Air », CGDD, février 2017.

Domain name where the database is published: https://www.statistiques.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/emissions-de-gaz-effet-de-serre-et-polluants-atmospheriques-au-format-aea-ex-namea

The information is not available at this time.

The data are available in the same format as the questionnaire sent to Eurostat.

There aren't other means of dissemination.

The information is not available at this time.

AEA methodological documents are available online : https://www.citepa.org/fr/namea/

Our methodological description covers the whole production processe of France AEA.

The quality document is unique for all French emission inventories : https://www.citepa.org/fr/ominea/

Responsibility for defining and overseeing the National Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory System (known by its acronym SNIEBA) falls to the French Ministry in charge of Ecological transition.

Given the multiple needs for the preparation of air pollutant emissions inventories which often cover similar substances and sources, it is justified, for the sake of consistency, quality and efficiency, to base the inventory system on a single core. 

The Ministry has entrusted CITEPA (Interprofessional Technical Centre for Studies on Air Pollution or Centre Interprofessionnel Technique d’Etudes de la Pollution Atmosphérique) with the following tasks: preparing the emission inventories with regard to methods and preparing their updating, data collection and processing, data storage, production of the reports and various means of disseminating the information, control and quality management.

The organisation of the current system which is the subject of the Ministerial Order of 24 August 2011 which repeals and supersedes the Ministerial Order of 29 December 2006 concerning the National Air Pollutant Emissions Inventory System (SNIEPA).  This organisation is compatible with the guiding framework of national systems as provided for under paragraph 1 of Article 5 of the Kyoto Protocol (decision CMP.1 annexed to UNFCCC decision 20/CP.7) and in line with the requirements of the MMR regulation No 525/2013 on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions.

EAs are prepared by Citepa, which has a quality assurance and quality control programme for all national inventories.

The national emissions inventory system is set up, by incorporating the usual criteria applicable to Quality ManagementSystems (QMS). CITEPA, in charge of preparing the national emissions inventories from a technical viewpoint, has put in place a system for quality assurance and quality control based on the ISO 9001 standard . This approach has been confirmed by the fact that CITEPA was awarded a certificate issued by the French Quality Management Body (AFAQ) in 2004. This was renewed in 2007, 2010, 2013 and follow-up audits were conducted in between. The task of preparing the national emissions inventories is covered by the QMS via several specific processes.

In this framework, several processes for quality assurance and quality control of the inventories are incorporated into the different processes and procedures implemented, corresponding to the different phases and actionson the following points:

- general functions: reviews, resource management, planning, tracking legislative, policy, scientific and technological developments, participation in work outside CITEPA linked to the emission inventories ;

- choice, implementation and development of methodologies as well as the choice of information sources and data collection. The processes for choosing the methods are clearly defined, particularly with regard to the reference frameworks and characteristics of relevance and permanence expected from the data sources. These choices are generally made in consultation with the stakeholders and experts in the areas concerned. Changes in methodology are submitted for approval by the Emissions Inventory Consultation and Information Group (GCIIE) ;

- developing calculating methods, particularly models for calculating emissions, data bases, reporting ;

- high level of traceability and transparency   ;

-  implementing and registering controls at key and risk stages in conducting the inventories, via multiple in-house controls both on input data, calculations, data bases, reports, data storage, monitoring changes (corrections of mistakes or improvements), cases of non-compliance. Several tools designed to accompany these controls have been developed ;

- validating and approving the results of the inventories, following the opinion issued by the GCIIE ;

- validating and approving the reports and other means of communication by the Ministry in charge of Environment ;

- systematic archiving of the elements needed to ensure the required traceability.➢disseminating the corresponding information and products

- compatibility with EU requirements in terms of disseminating data and characteristics of emission inventories that the European Commission needs. In particular, in order that the latter can prepare the EU inventories on the basis of the Member States' inventories and thereby contribute to fulfilling the quality requirements set at EU level (ie regarding greenhouse gases which are monitored under specific legislative arrangements) ;

-  permanently improving the quality of estimations by developing procedures to avert possible systematic errors, reduce the corresponding uncertainties, extend coverage of substances and emission sources, etc. aimed at meeting quality targets. An action plan is drawn up and regularly updated. It incorporates the required andpossible improvements, taking into account the GCIIE's recommendations ;

- assessing the implementation of quality assurance and quality control arrangements, in particular the targets and the quality plan.

General quality assurance  is implemented by :

- comments  from  members  of  the Emissions  Inventories  Consultation  and  Information  Group (GCIIE) ;

- assessments  made  by  regional  authorities  (DREAL) ;

- the  statistics  bodies  in  charge  of  producing  certain  data ;

- reviews  conducted  by  the  UNFCCC  Secretariat ;

- the  reviews  conducted  in  the  different frameworks  (UNFCCC,  UNECE  /  LRTAP,  European Commission  /  EU  Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions  Monitoring  Mechanism,  etc.)  ;

- periodical  examinations  conductedby  various  experts  with  access  to  the  publicly  available emissions inventories or following comments made by third parties.

The overall quality of the AEA combines the quality of the national emission inventories with the quality associated with the allocation of emissions by industry.

The methodological report that describes the development of the AEAs presents the level of reliability of each emission allocation in the nace.

We have not collected users' opinions. However, it is possible for the user to query the statistical department in order to obtain additional information.

All data are available, except for issues of "national fishing vessels operating abroad".

Not applicable; To ensure comparability, this will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT in the European quality report using a standardised method.

See Annex 1.

The evaluation of all data is included in the attached methodology report (in French).

Not applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.

Not applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

21 months.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

All data is transmitted on time.

The data is delivered on 30 August by the producer. The delivery date is in line with the target objectives.

AEA are transmited to Eurostat before the dead line (30/09).

AEA are compiled according to harmonised guidelines provided by Eurostat and hence comparable across European countries reporting AEA to Eurostat.

Not applicable.

See Annex 2.

There aren't breaks in time series. 

Not applicable; To ensure comparability, this will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT in the European quality report using a standardised method.

In addition to taking into account the principle of residence, AEAs are comparable to UNFCCC or LRTAP emission inventories. For GHG emissions, small differences are due to emissions from agriculture not included in the UNFCCC. For the LRTAP the main differences come from the geographical coverage. The AEAs take into account the overseas territories whereas the LRTAP covers only metropolitan France.

Not applicable, because AEA data are annual.

AEA are consistent with ESA.

We strive to ensure consistency with other environmental accounts, such as energy and national account.

The production cost is estimated at € 90,000 per year.
For the production of AEAs, the time spent is estimated at 0.20 FTE (internal) + 0.40 FTE (external).

Each year, we recalculate the complete AEA time series for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2008 to N+2. The result is that there are no inconsistencies with the emissions inventory data.

The evaluation of all data is included in the attached methodologies reports (in French) :

- AEA_2023_France_AIR_methodology

- AEA_2023_France_ENERGY_methodology

Main changes since the last edition :

- For the application of the residency principle: following the work of the OECD, a significant improvement in the application of the residency principle in the international shipping sector was implemented this year. This has led to a sharp rise in emissions from the shipping sector over the entire period covered. 

The statistical service of the Ministry publishes its methodological review policy on its website.

We revivise the whole time serie annually, by using revised sources. The data are adjusted to reflect updated data sources ( in particular the energy balance).

Not applicable; To ensure comparability, this will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT in the European quality report using a standardised method.

The document (AEA_2023_France_AIR_methodology) accompanying this report is available only in French. Its aim is to help newcomers at the SDES to take AEA in charge. Data compilation is carried out by the Citepa (French body in charge of producing all official air emissions inventories for France). Each year, Citepa delivers an internal report describing in detail the compilation of energy use and AEA; about the AEA, the report especially provides information on how the connection is made between SNAP and NACE codes. These citepa reports are attached.

All data sources are listed and specified in the attached methodological document.

AEA_2023_France_AIR_methodology

AEA_2023_France_ENERGY_methodology

Data is collected annually.

There are no specific surveys for AEAs. The surveys used are those produced by national statistical institutions.

The data are checked when they are compiled by comparing energy consumption broken down by branch of activity ( preliminary for the AEA) with :
- PEFA
- the energy balance.

Inter-annual trends are analysed.

The data sets of year n-1 are compared with those of year n.

The AEAs are compared to the national inventories.

Inventory is the approach used to establish air emissions accounts.

The AEA is carried out using Citepa's source database on emissions from emitting activities (National System of Emission Inventories and Balances for the Atmosphere - SNIEBA). Pollutant emissions are allocated from the SNAP nomenclature to the Nace. Two types of allocations must be distinguished according to activities: "simple" allocations and "complex" allocations.

Allocations for combustion-related emissions and special equipment in industry and the tertiary and commercial sectors are based on energy matrices. The energy matrices present the energy consumption in France by type of energy according to the NAPFUE nomenclature (Nomenclature for air pollution from FUEls) and by use (heating, motive power, electricity production, boiler manufacturing, manufacturing of products other than boilers, etc.) according to the same nomenclature as the matrix of these AEAs.

Not applicable.

Simple allocations:
Activities for which unambiguous relationships can be established between a SNAP code and a AEA code. A SNAP category is allocated in one and only one AEA category.

Complex allocations :
Many SNAP codes are split into several AEA codes.  For some categories of SNAP emitters, there are allocation factors for different categories; AEAs could be determined fairly easily. For others, complexes have been developed.  These include combustion in industry, in the tertiary sector, in agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, road transport for its various uses, from river transport, to waste incineration industries, to wastewater treatment. For combustion in industry, in the tertiary sector and in agriculture, the allocation work is based on the specific work of the energy matrices.

The correspondence between SNAP and NACE is detailed in the attached methodological report.

Emission data for pollutants released from road traffic, SNAP code 07, are allocated in the inventory into eight categories:
- 0701: passenger cars (PC),
- 0702: light duty vehicles (LCVs),
- 0703: heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches,
- 0704: two-wheelers < 50 cm3,
- 0705: two-wheelers >50 cm3,
- 0706: fuel evaporation from vehicles,
- 0707: tyre and brake pad wear,
- 0708: road wear.
The estimation of these emissions is based on the following general equation: emissions = vehicle fleet x annual mileage x emissions factors

The emission factor is expressed as the mass of pollutants emitted per kilometre (g/km) by the vehicle depending on certain parameters: standard, type of journey (urban cycle, road, motorway), gradients, etc.
The vehicle fleet is determined by type of vehicle (passenger cars, light duty vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, etc.) according to fuel and engine capacity, and by a temporal breakdown according to the age of the vehicles.
In order to break down these emissions according to the NAMEA matrix structure, a certain amount of data processing is required; indeed, for each of the above-mentioned categories, it is necessary to distinguish the share of emissions attributable to consumers from the share of emissions attributable to economic activities.
Collective passenger transport for hire or reward (urban and interurban road transport) is assigned to the sector:
▪ 49.3-4: 'Other passenger land transport; freight transport by road and removal services' for NACE rev.2
▪ 60.2: "urban and road transport" for NACE rev.1
 

Passenger cars (SNAP 0701)
This category includes both household vehicles, company vehicles and vehicles of individual enterprises.
The breakdown is made by means of two indicators: the number of vehicles (for each activity or household) and the average mileage travelled (specific to the activity or households).
From 2003 to 2009, the statistical service of the Ministry of Transport publishes detailed data on the breakdown of private vehicle registrations by socio-occupational category and by household . This breakdown allows a more appropriate disaggregation for NAMEA matching.
From 2010 onwards, a deterioration in the accuracy of the data provided by the statistical service of the Ministry of Transport has been noted: the breakdown of vehicles owned by private individuals into different socio-professional categories is no longer carried out. The variations in distribution observed from 2003 to 2009 are therefore projected from 2010.
The average mileage comes from a survey on "the distribution of the fleet according to the owner's situation and socio-professional category on 01/07/88, as well as the average mileage travelled in 1987 by socio-professional category and by vehicle".
Thus the distribution of the fleet according to the owner's status and socio-professional category, combined with the average mileage travelled by socio-professional category and by vehicle, makes it possible to obtain the mileage travelled by the various users for each year.
However, no distinction can be made between the different types of roads (motorway, road and urban cycle).
The RSVERO II data from roadworthiness tests will make it possible, from 2020 onwards, to obtain detailed information on the mileage travelled by type of engine and according to the economic activity declared. They also make it possible to identify the share of households by motorisation over the entire 2012-2019 period. For the other sectors of economic activity, the emissions from passenger cars are considered to be linear between 2009 (last available fleet of passenger cars) and 2020 (RSVERO II data).

Heavy goods vehicles and buses (SNAP 0703)
This category (0703) includes all heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes as well as buses. The allocation of emissions to the SNAP 0703 category was carried out by distinguishing between emissions from heavy goods vehicles (freight transport) and emissions from buses (passenger transport).
Transport statistics makes it possible to know for each year the energy consumption associated with heavy goods vehicles and that associated with buses and coaches.
Heavy goods vehicles
The transport of goods by heavy goods vehicles for hire or reward does not systematically correspond to the "transport" branch (NAMEA codes 49.3-4 in NACE rev.2 and 60.2 in NACE rev.1).
Moreover, although data are available on the nature of the goods transported (in tonne-kilometres and in the NST nomenclature), these are difficult to attribute reliably to specific NACE sectors and exclude empty trips by heavy goods vehicles, which may account for a significant proportion of the kilometres travelled.
It is therefore more accurate to use the national public statistics, which identify the kilometres travelled by sector of activity of the user company, rather than statistics on the nature of the goods transported and on own account and for hire or reward.The available data allows a distinction to be made between ratios by fuel type.
For the year 2020, RSVERO II data from roadworthiness tests provide detailed information on the kilometres travelled by engine and by economic activity declared at the level of detail required for NAMEA reporting. For the other sectors of economic activity, not identified in the kilometres travelled in the annual freight transport survey data between 2008 and 2018, the RSVERO II data for the year 2020 are used to break them down more precisely.
For the year 2019, as the annual freight transport survey data were not published, the 2020 data were carried over to cover the 2019 allocations. As the annual freight transport survey data does not cover the years 1990 and 1995, the data for the year 1997 is carried forward to make the allocations for these two years.
Buses and coaches
A distinction is made between own account transport (personnel transport) and transport for hire or reward (other transport) with a distinction for school transport. For the period 1990-2005, the breakdown is estimated by the statistical service of the Ministry of the Environment. Beyond 2008, the breakdown comes from the annual freight transport survey publications from 2008 to 2015 on collective road passenger transport.Beyond 2015, the 2015 data is carried forward to make the breakdown. For the year 2020, RSVERO II data from roadworthiness tests will provide detailed information on the kilometres travelled by motorisation and according to the economic activity declared at the level of detail required for NAMEA reporting. For the other economic activity sectors, not identified in the kilometres travelled in the TRV data between 2008 and 2015, the RSVERO II data for the year 2020 are used to break them down more precisely.

Motorbikes and motorbikes < 50 cm3 (SNAP 0704)
There is little data available to determine the precise distribution of these vehicles. It is assumed that emissions are distributed between private individuals, restaurant deliveries and postal deliveries.
The ratios are based on a survey for 2012 and data on the fleet of motorbikes belonging to the Post Office (data obtained on request or via annual reports) out of the total number of motobikes known in the inventory.

Motorbikes > 50 cm3 (SNAP 0705)
There is little data available to determine the precise distribution of these vehicles. It is assumed that emissions are distributed between private individuals, administration and delivery to restaurants.
The determination of the ratios is based on a survey for the year 2012. The fleet of motorbikes belonging to the administration was given each year by the statistics on the state vehicle fleet (category "motorbikes") . As of 2011, these data are no longer available. The number of motorbikes in the administration is therefore reported. Similarly, as the data is not available for 1990 and 1995, the values available for the year 2000 are used for these two years.

Residence Principle for cars and light duty trucks

 The emissions of the resident cars and light duty trucks in France are calculated with fuel sales and consumptions. 

The emissions of resident's vehicles abroad are calculated on the basis of economic data from national accounts (balance of payments).

Assumptions made for these methodologies:

-          the key of fuel consumption of foreign residents abroad / fuel consumption of foreigners in France is equal to the key of total spending of foreign residents / total spending of foreigners in France;

-          Domestic vehicles are resident vehicles.

Residence Principle for heavy duty trucks

The emissions of  resident heavy duty trucks in France are calculated from data on the origin of the fleet circulating in France (resident and foreign heavy duty trucks).

Emissions of resident heavy duty trucks abroad are calculated from surveys on road freight transport. The survey provides data on the quantities of goods transported (t. km) by resident vehicles, in France and abroad

Assumptions made for these methodologies:

-          the consumption of heavy duty trucks is proportional to the number of vehicles (in vehicles. km)

-          tonne-kilometers transported are proportional to the fleet of vehicles (in vehicles.km)

-          heavy duty trucks excluded from the road freight survey (vehicles over 15 years old, military vehicles, special motor vehicles) had the same evolution in terms of consumption as other types of heavy goods vehicles.

Residence Principle for busses

The emissions of the resident busses in France are calculated with fuel sales and consumptions.

The emissions of resident busses abroad are calculated on the basis of economic data from national accounts (balance of payments).

No time series to adjust.

Not applicable.