Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
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.
3.2. Classification system
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
3.3. Coverage - sector
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.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
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').
3.5. Statistical unit
Data refer to emissions by resident economic units in the sense of SEEA CF 2012 and National Accounts (ESA), including households.
3.6. Statistical population
The national economy is as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and National Accounts (ESA), i.e. all economic activities undertaken by resident units.
3.7. Reference area
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).
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data is made available for 2008-2023.
3.9. Base period
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.
SOX are reported in tonnes of SO2 equivalents, and NOX are reported in tonnes of NO2 equivalents.
The data refer to calendar years.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Air emissions accounts (AEA) are legally covered by Regulation (EU) 691/2011 on European Environmental Economic Accounts.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable at national level.
No confidentiality on total emissions
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Not applicable
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
There is no micro data available in the dataset; however, some industry groups might be subject to confidentiality.
8.1. Release calendar
Data was made available on the SCB website in March 2024: www.scb.se/mi1301-en
8.2. Release calendar access
The release calendar is readily available on the SCB homepage.
8.3. Release policy - user access
The release calendar is readily available on the SCB homepage.
Data are disseminated annually.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Following publication of the statistics in March, a news release is available here: SCB.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
No separate report made.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data was published in March on the SCB website: www.scb.se/mi1301-en
Statistics Sweden applies the Eurostat code of practice and has implemented UNECE’s Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM) in the production processes.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Overall, the data is of very good quality. Data is collected from reliable sources e.g. air emissions inventories and energy statistics, applying high standards with regard to the methodology and ensuring a high degree of comparability.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency gave an assignment to the environmental accounts at Statistics Sweden in 2014 to deliver data and analyses in the area for climate impact of consumption . It has even given statistics Sweden the main responsibility for the research assignment called Policy Relevant Indicators for Consumption and Environment (PRINCE). PRINCE is a four year assignment that started in 2014 and is done in cooperation with the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), the Stockholm Environment Institute, Chalmers University of Technology, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and TNO/CML of the Netherlands Prince project.
The Swedish National board of Housing, Building And Planning are using the environmental accounts in their follow up of the environmental quality objectives related to their responsibilities (construction and real estate) They publish annual indicators: Boverket aktuell-status.
Since December 2015, quarterly emissions to air by NACE and households is produced and published by the environmental accounts at Statistics Sweden. The quarterly statistics are also summarized to yearly preliminary statistics, published in the end of April or beginning of May. On commission by The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency also preliminary statistics for 2016 according to UNFCCC/CRF format was produced using the same data. Both quarterly statistics and preliminary yearly statistics have received a lot of attention in Swedish media. A report, also available in English, covering results and methodology for quarterly statistics is available at Show detailed information.
Regional air emissions accounts have also been developed and published since 2016 at SCB, with a variety of regional users from regional governments and media
Air emissions accounts are used by The National Institute of Economic Research (NIER) in their economic model EMEC.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
See 12.1
12.3. Completeness
The data covers the Swedish economy as a whole.
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not applicable; To ensure comparability, this will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT in the European quality report using a standardised method.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
In order to ensure accuracy, the data collected and reported is checked against national inventories and energy statistics and are commonly revised every year. The overalll accuracy is good.
Not applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Not applicable because data are not based on a sample survey.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not applicable.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not applicable.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not applicable.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not applicable.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not applicable.
13.3.4. Processing error
The data production of AEA is mainly done in the statistical software program SAS. Data checks to verify totals and trends are put in place to minimize the processing error. Yearly data is compared with the quarterly data also produced by the environmental accounts at Statistics Sweden.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
The industry allocation is based on several models as well as the residence adjustment.
Input data is mainly energy statistics, national accounts and transport statistics which are assumped to be the best available data sources for modelling of industry allocation and residence adjustment.
14.1. Timeliness
Sweden transmitted AEA data to Eurostat on 2024-08-14 2008-2023
There are preliminary figures available for 2023
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
The Regulation requires air emissions accounts to be provided by 30 September every year.
Sweden transmitted the data to Eurostat on 2023-09-30, covering the years 2008-202.
Data was ready nationally 2023-04-20 (2008-2022) and 2023-05-11 (2023).
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
The Regulation requires air emissions accounts to be provided by 30 September every year.
Sweden transmitted the data to Eurostat on 2023-09-30, covering the years 2008-2022.
Data was ready nationally 2023-05-11 (2008-2021) and 2023-05-11 (2022).
Good comapribility with energy statistics and inventory statistics (as reported to the UNFCCC).
15.1. Comparability - geographical
AEA are compiled according to harmonised guidelines provided by Eurostat and hence comparable across European countries reporting AEA to Eurostat.
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not applicable.
15.2. Comparability - over time
There are no breaks in time series due to new methodologies or new indata. (we have added nothing to Annex 2)
Not applicable; To ensure comparability, this will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT in the European quality report using a standardised method.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Yearly AEA data is coherent with quarterly statistics published by Statistics Sweden.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
AEA follows the same industry allocation as NA, i.e. Nace rev 2. It includes emissions from the Swedish economy with the same definition as National Accounts.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Industry separated data is cross-checked against e.g. energy statistics and inventory data.
The data is produced cost-efficiently through the use of already calculated data for the Swedish reporting of AEA in March. Our production cost 60 hours.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Data can be revised every year in due to new indata, new improved methodologies or new emissionfactors and so on.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data is revised yearly when new data is available from the inventory and from energy statistics.
in 2024:
Nothing have cchanged.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not applicable; To ensure comparability, this will be calculated and provided by EUROSTAT in the European quality report using a standardised method.
18.1. Source data
Energy, stationary combustion:
Mining, Manufacturing industries, Electricity- gas- and heat industry
Energy data from The Industry´s energy use (Energy Agency (EA) responsible) (micro data). Covers NACE 05-33, all companies in Sweden with more than 10 employees.
Energy data from Electricity gas district heating supply (EA) (micro data). The survey covers all NACE 35 companies and all stationary energy use.
Model for energy use in small enterprises. We use a temporary survey to cover stationary energy use within companies with fewer than 10 employees. The survey was done 2010 and has been updated with the trend within the investigation in the industry survey (first bullet above).
Some energy data from the Swedish Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant Inventory (reported to UNFCCC/CLRTAP by SEPA), below named emission inventory.
Emission factors from emission inventory.
Other industries, public sector, households
Emissions are taken from the emission inventory
Energy, mobile combustion: Emissions are taken from the emission inventory (by CRF/NFR, vehicle type and fuel type). We have collected data from OECD and Swedish transport agency.
Other emissions: Fugitive emissions, emissions from industrial processes and product use, emissions from agriculture and waste management are taken from the emission inventory.
A model is used for distributing emissions from services based on energy statistics for premises (EA).
Energy, mobile combustion:
To allocate road transport emissions to NACE*64 we use the vehicle register and yearly vehicle inspection results. We allocate the emissions based on vehicle ownership and mileage for the last year by type of car and fuel.
Emissions from working machinery and off road vehicles are distributed to industries and households using background data from the emission inventory.
Other emissions:
When necessary, emissions are distributed to industries and households by various models constructed using background data from emission inventory.
For nationally published results emissions from the public sector on the demand side are allocated to state, county council and municipal use. In the accounts reported to Eurostat this is allocated to the corresponding NACE categories to conform to the AEA.
18.5.3. Method used to determine and distribute road transport emissions
To allocate road transport emissions to NACE*64 we use the vehicle register and yearly vehicle inspection results. We allocate the emissions based on vehicle ownership and mileage for the last year by type of car and fuel.
18.5.4. Adjustments for residence principle
Residence adjustment for land transports is applied for the first time in 2019. We have concluded that imports equals exports for passenger cars (thus no residence adjustment applicable for these). For heavy duty vehicles we made a residence adjustment based on transport data from Transport Analysis (based on their Eurostat statistics) that is considered to be of good quality.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not applicable.
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.
16 January 2024
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 data refer to calendar years.
In order to ensure accuracy, the data collected and reported is checked against national inventories and energy statistics and are commonly revised every year. The overalll accuracy is good.
F-gases (HFC, PFC, SF6 and NF3) are reported in tonnes of CO2 equivalents.
SOX are reported in tonnes of SO2 equivalents, and NOX are reported in tonnes of NO2 equivalents.
Data compilation is done mainly from energy statistics and inventory data.
Energy, stationary combustion:
Mining, Manufacturing industries, Electricity- gas- and heat industry
Energy data from The Industry´s energy use (Energy Agency (EA) responsible) (micro data). Covers NACE 05-33, all companies in Sweden with more than 10 employees.
Energy data from Electricity gas district heating supply (EA) (micro data). The survey covers all NACE 35 companies and all stationary energy use.
Model for energy use in small enterprises. We use a temporary survey to cover stationary energy use within companies with fewer than 10 employees. The survey was done 2010 and has been updated with the trend within the investigation in the industry survey (first bullet above).
Some energy data from the Swedish Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant Inventory (reported to UNFCCC/CLRTAP by SEPA), below named emission inventory.
Emission factors from emission inventory.
Other industries, public sector, households
Emissions are taken from the emission inventory
Energy, mobile combustion: Emissions are taken from the emission inventory (by CRF/NFR, vehicle type and fuel type). We have collected data from OECD and Swedish transport agency.
Other emissions: Fugitive emissions, emissions from industrial processes and product use, emissions from agriculture and waste management are taken from the emission inventory.
