ISTAT - NATIONAL STATISTICAL INSTITUTE

Monetary environmental accounts

The environmental goods and services sector (EGSS) accounts report on an economic sector that generates goods and services produced for environmental protection or the management of natural resources.

Products for environmental protection prevent, reduce and eliminate pollution or any other degradation of the environment. Examples are electric vehicles, catalysts and filters to decrease pollutant emissions, wastewater and waste treatment services, noise insulation works or restoration of degraded habitats.

Products for resource management safeguard the stock of natural resources against depletion. Examples are renewable energy production, energy-efficient and passive buildings, seawater desalinization or rainwater recovery, and materials recovery.

EGSS accounts provide data on output and export of environmental goods and services and on the value added of and employment in the environmental goods and services sector.

EGSS data are compiled following the statistical concepts and definitions set out in the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 – Central Framework.

Data are reported cross-classified by 1) the type of environmental protection and resource management activity and 2) economic activity. Environmental protection activities are classified by environmental domain as set out in the Classification of Environmental Protection Activities - CEPA. Resource management activities are classified as set out in the Classification of Resource Management Activities - CReMA. see the revised CEPA and CReMA explanatory notes for detail. Economic activity is classified according to the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community, Rev. 2 (2008).

EGSS comprises a sector of the economy that produces goods and services aimed at environmental protection and resource management (see SEEA CF 2012 chapter 4). Environmental goods and services either reduce environmental pressures or help maintaining the stock of natural resources or they are designed to be cleaner and more resource efficient than conventional products. Environmental goods and services can be produced by corporations, households, governments and non-profit institutions. The list of environmental activities and products has been set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2174 ('the indicative compendium of environmental goods and services').

EGSS has the same system boundaries as the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010) and consists of all environmental products within this production boundary. ESA defines production as the activity carried out under the control and responsibility of an institutional unit that uses input of labour, capital, goods and services to produce output of goods and services.

Only goods and services produced for environmental purposes are included in the scope of the environmental goods and services sector.

'Environmental purpose' means that a good or service helps either 1) preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment or 2) preserving and maintaining the stock of natural resources and hence safeguarding against depletion.

The EGSS statistics aim at compiling data for the following economic variables:

Output: consists of products that become available for use outside of the producer unit, any goods and services produced for own final use and goods that remain in the inventories at the end of the period in which they are produced. Apart from market output, output for own final use and non-market output, EGSS statistics also include ancillary output, comprising output intended for use within an enterprise.

Market output is to be valued at basic prices, that is, the prices receivable by the producer from the purchaser minus taxes and plus subsidies on products.
Output for own final use is to be valued at basic prices of similar products sold on the market or by the total costs of production.
Non-market output is to be estimated by the total costs of production.
Ancillary output is measured as a total of recurrent production costs (such as intermediate consumption, compensation of employees and consumption of fixed capital) incurred by enterprises to: 1) reduce environmental pressures arising from their production process or 2) produce environmental goods or services not intended for use outside the enterprise, but instead supporting other (non-environmental) activities undertaken within the enterprise (e.g. waste management services carried out in-house). For market producers, a mark-up for net operating surplus is added to the value of the EGSS ancillary output.
Gross Value Added: represents the contribution made by the production of environmental goods and services to GDP. It is the difference between the value of the output and intermediate consumption.

Employment: is measured in full-time equivalent jobs engaged in the production of output of environmental goods and services. Full-time equivalent is defined as total hours worked divided by the average annual working hours in a full-time job.

Exports: consist of sales, barter, gifts, or grants, of environmental goods and services from residents to non-residents.

Council Regulation (EEC) No 696/93 of 15 March 1993 on the statistical units for the observation and analysis of the production system in the Community describes the different statistical units of the production system.

The recommended statistical unit for the collection and compilation of EGSS statistics (excluding general government) is the establishment. For general government, the recommendation is to use institutional units and groupings of units as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).

The statistical population is the national economy as defined in SEEA CF 2012 and the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). It includes all economic activities undertaken by resident units.

Italy

EGSS data by CEPA/CREMA and by economic activities are currently available for 2014-2021.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Output, gross value added, and exports are measured in million units of national currency. Employment is measured in full time equivalents (i.e., full time equivalent jobs).

The reference period for EGSS data is the calendar year.

EGSS accounts are compiled and reported in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts (EEEA).

The EEEA follow internationally agreed concepts and definitions set out in the SEEA Central Framework (2012), the international statistical standard adopted by the UN Statistical Commission. They present data in a way that is compatible with National Accounts (ESA, 2010).

Not applicable.

There is no dataset-specific rule. 

December 2023

The national release calendar for EGSS data is not accessible to the public

Access to non disseminated EGSS data can be provided mainly for research purposes under request and is subject to case by case evaluation.

Annual

The release of EGSS data is announced on the main page of the Istat website (Italian section only) by means of a  'news' document. It includes  information on the definition of environmental goods and services, reference period, main data sources. 

EGSS data are reguarly published in the Istat data warehouse. 

Istat data warehouse

http://dati.istat.it

https://esploradati.istat.it/databrowser/#/it/dw/categories

Domain: NATIONAL ACCOUNTS - ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTS - ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND SERVICES ACCOUNT

Not requested for this metadata collection.

Not applicable

A summary of main results of the 2014-2018 EGSS time series is available in the Scientific Poster prepared for the 14th national Conference of Statistics: https://www.istat.it/storage/14-Conferenza-nazionale-statistica/poster/062.jpg

A detailed analysis of EGSS Italian data 2014-2018 including a comparison with Eu aggregates is available in Italian only in:
Battellini, F., Piscitelli, I., Tudini A. 2021. 'I beni e servizi ambientali',
Femia A., Tudini A. (editors). “Economia e ambiente. Una lettura integrata”.
Letture Statistiche - Temi. Roma: Istat. https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/258752
ISBN: 978-88-458-2049-6

2020 EGSS Report for years 2018 - 2020- English version

https://www.istat.it/en/archivio/281940
https://www.istat.it/it/files//2023/03/report-economia-ambiente-2022-English.pdf

Italian version

https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/279169

https://www.istat.it/it/files//2022/12/REPORT-ECONOMIA-AMBIENTE_2022.pdf

Not requested for this metadata collection.

No detailed description of the national methodology exists

Not requested for this metadata collection.

National quality reports are not available

Validation procedures and plausibility checks are mostly based on the comparison of EGSS estimates with broader national accounts aggregates

Procedures and processes are regularly updated.

Not applicable

Not applicable

EGSS Italian data covers almost all indicative compendium products. Estimates do not cover yet the indicative compendium products listed below, entirely or partially (i.e. for some CEPA/CreMA indicated in the operational list); in case of partial coverage, the missing CEPA/CReMA are reported in brackets with the wording 'ONLY'.

IC 14) Septic tanks
IC 19) Tubes and pipes for wastewater treatment plants as well as for water management
IC 69) Architectural services for water, wastewater and waste management projects (CREMA10 ONLY)
IC 70) Engineering services for water and wastewater management projects ( CREMA10 ONLY)
IC 74) Environmental consulting services (some CREMAs ONLY)
IC 75) Environmental consulting services: forest management consulting services

For the 2023 data delivery volontary estimates related to non market, ancillary and own account production have been added for the years 2016 and 2017.

98% of total products of the operational list.

Validation procedures and plausibility checks are mostly based on the comparison of EGSS estimates with broader national accounts aggregates, ensuring the overall quality of the data reported.

Not applicable

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First EGSS estimates are available 22 months after the reference period

First EGSS estimates are available 22 months after the reference period. The  October 2023 data delivery covers EGSS estimates up to the year 2021. 

Generally speaking final EGSS estimates are available 34 months after the reference period.  However, changes can occur due to national accounts revisions,  inclusion of additional IC products covered, methodological revisions.  

The data were delivered to Eurostat on October 2023.

Zero.

Very few products from the indicative compendium in Regulation (EU) 2015/2174 are not covered from the Italian EGSS account. See section 12.3.

No products or activities beyond those mentioned in the indicative compendium are included in the Italian EGSS account.

Not requested for this metadata collection.

EGSS Italian data covers almost all indicative compendium products. Estimates do not cover yet the indicative compendium products listed below, entirely or partially (i.e. for some CEPA/CreMA indicated in the operational list); in case of partial coverage, the missing CEPA/CReMA are reported in brackets with the wording 'ONLY'.

IC 14) Septic tanks
IC 19) Tubes and pipes for wastewater treatment plants as well as for water management
IC 69) Architectural services for water, wastewater and waste management projects (CREMA10 ONLY)
IC 70) Engineering services for water and wastewater management projects ( CREMA10 ONLY)
IC 74) Environmental consulting services (some CREMAs ONLY)
IC 75) Environmental consulting services: forest management consulting services.

See also section 12.3

There are not products other than those indicated in the indicative compedium.

The calculation process does not cause break in time series.

The calculation process does not cause break in time series

EGSS account is consistent with national accounts (NA) and environmental protection expenditure accounts (EPEA).

Not applicable

NA data are in many cases the main data source for the estimates; in all cases the NA reference data at the most detailed available level  are part of the estimate procedure.

Use of the same data sources ensures consistency between EPEA and EGSS.

Output estimates provide the basis for GVA, employment and export estimates

1 full time equivalent for this data delivery

Yes, they are comparable.

Procedures and processes are regularly updated; major revisions and updates occur during the national accounts general revisions.
The revision policy for EGSS data is as follows: update of t-3 and t-2 data in every data transmission due to the ordinary revisions of NA data sources. In addition, the entire time series may be updated on the occasion of national accounts other than ordinary revisions and due to methodological improvements.

With reference to the only market production, the main revisions concern:

- renewable energy: update of data derived from PEFA  ;

- noise abatement activities (2018-19-20), due to the availability of additional data from respondents;

-progress in the completness process by including estimates on Nzeb from 2014 to 2021;

- improved estimates of “Electric and more resource efficient transport equipment”: electric motorbikes were added; 

- improved estimates for energetic refurbishments (upwards for the period 2014-2020) .

The magnitude of the revision for 2019 and 2020 is around 12%.

It is mainly due to the inclusion of estimates of Nzeb, the upward revision of data on energetic refurbishment, the inclusion of estimates on electric motorbikes, revisions in estimates based on Prodcom, revisions of data from Supply Tables in National Accounts

Procedures and processes are regularly updated; major revisions and updates occur during the national accounts general revisions.
The revision policy for EGSS data is as follows: update of t-3 and t-2 data in every data transmission due to the ordinary revisions of NA data sources. In addition, the entire time series may be updated on the occasion of national accounts other than ordinary revisions and due to methodological improvements.

See section 17.1

Main sources used for EGSS variable MARKET OUTPUT for all CEPA/CReMA are:

National accounts - agriculture
National accounts - supply tables
National accounts - use tables
National accounts - gross fixed capital formation
Istat surveys on Economic and financial accounts of enterprises - current expenditure for environmental protection by CEPA; sections other than environmental protection expenditure: investments, expenditure for repair and maintenance, other
PRODCOM Statistics
Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA)
Vehicles inspection register
Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register
Students enrolled in University courses
Individual companies' financial, economic and environmental accounts
Industrial Associations of producers of equipment for energy production from renewable sources - reports
Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE) - Statistics

Census of Non profit institutions

Data on Nzeb built (ENEA)

National accounts - costs of construction of buildings

Ad hoc survey on noise abatement 

Main sources used for EGSS variable OUTPUT (other than market) for all CEPA/CReMA are:

General Government expenditure by function - detailed working level data; General Government accounts - detailed working level data (non market output);
Ad hoc survey on General Government vehicles inspection (non market output);
Financial and economic accounts of individual Institutes/Agencies;
Survey on Economic and financial accounts of large enterprises data and on Small and Medium Enterprises (ancillary environmental protection output);
Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA) (own account output - renewable energy)
Ad hoc survey on noise abatement (ancillary output)

Main sources used for EGSS variable of which EXPORTS for all CEPA/CReMA are: national accounts export data by product
Main sources used for EGSS variable VALUE ADDED for all CEPA/CReMA are: national accounts value added data by economic activity
Main sources used for EGSS variable EMPLOYMENT for all CEPA/CReMA are: national accounts data on FTE

Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA)

PRODCOM statistics
AGRICULTURE statistics
RENEWABLE ENERGY STATISTICS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY STATISTICS
WATER STATISTICS

Istat does not run a dedicated survey for EGSS purposes. However, in the case of noise abaatement and General Government vehicles inspection, Istat runs two specific annual data collections for EGSS purposes. Respondents for noise abatement are market and non market companies that manage roads and motorways in Italy. The Interior Ministry and the Carabinieri Corps are the respondents for General Government vehicles inspection.

- Vehicles inspection register.
- Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register.
- List of Organic Certification Bodies provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

National Accounts data: t+15 (preliminary) t+21 (final)

Istat surveys on Economic and financial accounts of enterprises: t+19

PRODCOM Statistics: t+16

Physical Energy Flow Accounts (PEFA): t+21

Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register: t+15

Census of Non profit institutions: t+18 (preliminary) t+22 (final)

Ad hoc survey on noise abatement: t+12

General Government expenditure by function: t+21

Gestore Servizi Energetici (GSE) - Statistics :  web

Enterprises balance sheets and reports: web

ESCO reports: web

Ad hoc survey on noise abatement

Vehicles inspection register

Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) certification register

Students enrolled in University courses

Ad hoc survey on General Government vehicles inspection

Validation procedures and plausibility checks are mostly based on the comparison of EGSS estimates with broader national accounts aggregates.

See section below

Not requested for this metadata collection.

The breakdown by NACE is based on the classification of the producer of EGSS goods and activities.

The estimate of the extracost of Nearly zero energy buildings is included in the questionnaire. This item has been estimated using two different sources of information:

- the cost of construction of buildings provided by CRESME, a research institute investigating the construction sector

- the extracost of Nearly zero energy buildings estimated by ENEA, the research institute entitled of registering data on Nzeb. This estimate is reported in the National Plan for Nzeb included in the national law (decreto interministeriale) "Piano per l'incremento degli edifizi a energia quasi zero"  (Plan for increasing NZEBs) dated 19 june 2017

The ratio between the two provides the percentage of extracost reported in the questionnaire. It is estimated 8.4%.

Not applicable

Not requested for this metadata collection.