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.
Division: Final demand, labour and capital input, environmental accounts
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
via A. Depretis 74b 00184 Roma
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
19 November 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
19 November 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
19 November 2024
3.1. Data description
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
2008-2022
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.
Laws regulating the Italian National Statistical System and Program:
Delega per la riforma degli enti pubblici di informazione statistica (art. 24 della Legge n. 400 del 23 agosto 1988 ).
Decreto legislativo n. 322 del 6 settembre 1989 Sistema statistico nazionale e riorganizzazione dell’Istituto nazionale di statistica, ai sensi dell’art. 24 della legge 23 agosto 1988, n. 400, in cui recepire le integrazioni e modifiche del DPR n. 166 del 7 settembre 2010 (Regolamento recante il riordino dell'Istituto nazionale di Statistica).
Regolamento di organizzazione dell’Istat e modifiche al disegno organizzativo (DPCM del 28 aprile 2011).
Regolamento recante norme per la definizione dei criteri e delle procedure per l’individuazione dei soggetti privati partecipanti al Sistan, DPCM n. 152 del 9 marzo 2000, ai sensi dell’articolo 2, comma 1, della legge 28 aprile 1998, n. 125).
Istituto di studi e analisi economica: trasferimento delle funzioni e risorse al Ministero dell’economia e delle finanze e all’Istat (Decreto del Ministro dell’economia e delle finanze 23 dicembre 2010).
Codice italiano delle statistiche ufficiali (Direttiva Comstat n. 10 del 17 marzo 2010).
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Besides the general rules of the Italian National System and Program, a Memorandum of agreement ("protocollo d'intesa") is in place between Istat and ISPRA, and related implentation document regulates the details of data sharing between the two institutions for this specific task.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Codice in materia di protezione dei dati personali (D.lgs. n. 196 del 30 giugno 2003)
Codice di deontologia – Trattamento dei dati personali a scopi statistici in ambito Sistan (allegato A3 D. lgs. n. 196 del 30 giugno 2003)
(please see Annex A3)
Criteri e modalità per la comunicazione dei dati personali nell’ambito del Sistema statistico nazionale (Direttiva n. 9 Comstat del 20 aprile 2004)
Misure di sicurezza e modalità di scambio dei dati personali tra amministrazioni pubbliche (Provvedimento n. 393 del Garante per la Protezione dei dati Personali del 2 luglio 2015)
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The general rules and methods described in the references provided under 7.1 apply.
In general, no data are disseminated if referred to less than three aggregated units. This restriction however does not apply to the dataset in case, as all data are Istat estimates.
8.1. Release calendar
AEA data will be made available on the Istat’s datawarehouse as soon as they pass Eurostat's check. Foreseen date is 30 november 2024.
8.2. Release calendar access
The calendar is set on a weekly basis for releases not accompanied by a briefing for the press
The latest description of the methodology for air emission account available nationally can be found at: Istat website.
This is an old document that may be outdated for some details, but still holds as a general description.
Databrowser tables are accompanied by the main metadata.
More detailed metadata are provided through the Institute's quality of statistics documentation system: Istat visualizza.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
1.
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Quality report is reported on the Istat Information system on quality of statistical production processes at this link: Istat visualizza.
11.1. Quality assurance
Since the 90s Istat adopted a systematic approach to ensure quality in both statistical information and service to the community. For this purpose, the Italian National Institute of Statistics has defined a quality policy providing itself with appropriate tools as well as management changes to carry it out.
Istat quality policy is aimed at the improvement of statistical outputs and processes through the development of appropriate methodologies and tools as well as an appropriate scientific and technical support, provided to the personnel directly involved in the production and dissemination of statistical information.
Istat quality policy is coherent with the European framework developed by Eurostat, taking up its main principles and definitions stated in the European Statistics Code of Practice and useful to ensure and strengthen the accountability and governance of the European Statistical System and of the National Statistical Systems.
- data from emission inventories are acquired at a level of granularity that allows univoque allocations of most items to NACE and HH activities whenever possible;
- non-univoque emission inventory items depending on energy use are assigned according to a PEFA-like use table having the additional dimension "use purpose" (e.g. road transport; heating ...)
- emissions from road transport are dealt with on the basis of a method using microdata on mileage by type of vehicle and fuel.
Possible quality deficiencies mainly concern:
- the lack of a recent source for the use of energy products in industries (the one in use - providing some distribution details - dates back to 2011);
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
In Italy main uses at national level include:
use for statistical analysis and forecasting of effects of economic policy by the Italian Ministry of environment, in the framework of the use in the Economy and Finance Document of per capita GHG emissions of residents (one of twelve indicators of sustainable and equitable well-being which must be monitored according to law 163/2016;
use for modelling and scenario analysis by several Italian academic and research institutes;
use for informing the general public by Istat: Dati Istat.
Intermediate results from the elaboration of AEA are being used in a joint project with ISPRA in order to produce in an integrated way Indicators for air emissions (by IPCC Sector) and AEA at regional level for all Italian regions; these indicators and accounts will support the monitoring of regional sustainable development plans.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Istat is constantly interested in understanding who the users of the statistics it produces are, what the information needs are, whether they match production and if the statistics produced satisfy users. To this aim, together with the analysis of user requests received through the Web Contact Center service, tools for direct consultation were developed, such as the annual online survey of customer satisfaction and indirect tools such as analysis of accesses and of users' browsing paths on the web site.
12.3. Completeness
The system is complete and fully complying with relevant regulations/ guidelines
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.
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
Not applicable.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Average production time is 4 months.
AEA are nationally published usually in November, depending on Eurostat checks, i.e. with a delay of 23 months as for the non-provisional data.
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
Not applicable.
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
Releases are delivered on time.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
No delay
Data are both coherent and comparable
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
No breaks in time series.
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
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
AEA are coherent with the italian emission inventories - which are used as a main data source - except for the residence principle.
There are differences in the output related the CO2 air emissions from air transport between AEA and OECD results. OECD estimates are not incorporated into ours due to the different definition of resident company (country delivering the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) versus National accounts definition).
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Not applicable, because AEA data are annual.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Italian AEA are consistent with ESA.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence is full.
Restricted from publication
All time series are recalculated each year, following the revisions/additions to the basic emissioni data by ISPRA and possibly to methods and other data sources.
17.1. Data revision - policy
Revisions of previously released data generally take place whenever there is an update of a source.
As of September 2024, the time series of Air emission accounts was revised as a result of the extraordinary revision of the time series of national accounts, taking advantage of advances in methods and sources. The revision of the national accounts took place in coordination with other European countries. To date, the time series of Air emission accounts is available from 2008 onward.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Revisions follow the annual schedule of the accounts' compilation
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
The main source of data for AEA is the Air emission inventory annually calculated by Istituto Superiore per la Ricerca e la Protezione Ambientale (Ispra) and used for the Italian communications within the framework of international conventions: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UNECE Convention on Long - range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). Each year the whole time series are revised and new items added to the estimates. The allocation of inventories’ emissions to NACE+HH, mainly for heating and transport, is based on TIPU (Table of uses of energy products by type of purpose in physical units) a table for internal use, fully coherent with PEFA, but with details as for the purpose of use of the products by the different branches, that allowing better links to emissions. TIPU is also used for the national accounts estimates of use of energy products in monetary units.
Sources of energy use data include: Ministry of Economic Development (National Energy Balance and other energy statistics), Istat (Supply and Use Tables, Foreign trade data, Agriculture economic accounts, Register of Italian employers, Survey on Air Transport), ACI (Italian Vehicle Register), Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport (Italian Vehicles Inspection Register), Bank of Italy (Balance of Payment, Survey on International maritime transport, Survey on international tourism in Italy), TERNA (Italian Transmission System Operator for electricity).
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annually
18.3. Data collection
No data are directly collected.
Air emission inventory data are acquired directly from the producers as excel files.
TIPU data are produced internally.
Other data are acquired as data files from the producing organisations.
18.4. Data validation
We check the consistency between the data source and the data communicated by ISPRA for international conventions. When consistency is not verified, we ask for explanations and, in case of errors in our procedures, we correct them. Otherwise, the basic data are corrected on the basis of our input.
As for the outputs, the validation is based on:
quality guidelines: Eurostat suggested checks on the results reported in the questionnaire guide us to identify unjustified outliers
benchmarking: Official National UNFCCC and CLRTAP communications are matched by AEA data (net of the residence principle adjustments) at various levels of aggregation
use of best practices: new best practices are implented as much as possible at every general revision of the National Accounts, when the compilation system is thoroughly reconsidered
self-assessments: the interrelations between AEA and other environmental as well as with core national accounts oblige to continuosly self-assess the quality of the work done on the basis of e.g. the likelyhood of characteristic ratios
cross-checks between AEA and PEFA especially on CO2 air transport emissions.
18.5. Data compilation
The approach used for the Italian AEA is the inventory-first approach.
In the first step, the inventories' emissions are adjusted for the residence principle. Then, the new totals, broken down according to a process-oriented nomenclature are re-arranged according to the Nace classification and private households’ consumption activity.
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not applicable.
18.5.2. Method used to allocate emissions to economic activities
Allocation of source data to industries occurs in two steps:
Step 1. assessment of the qualitative link between each process of the emission inventory and economic activities; at the end of the first step, processes can be split into two groups:
i) processes with one link only to the activities of the air emission accounts classification , which can be directly allocated to the related air emission accounts activity without further calculation;
ii) processes with multiple links to the activities of the air emission accounts classification , - mainly combustion, transport and heating processes - for which the second step, quantitative allocation is required.
Step 2. Quantitative allocation of the process emissions to the related Air emission accounts activities, identified in step 1. In order to distribute the emissions with multiple NACE associations, three alternative methods are applied: a) activity - related inventory background data; b) TIPU (Table of uses of energy products by type of use) – used specifically for heating and transport processes; this source is especially useful for identifying the emissions caused by the service sector out of total emissions, since heating and transport (as ancillary activity) account for most of the emissions of the service industries; c) data on full time equivalent employees.
18.5.3. Method used to determine and distribute road transport emissions
The immediate source is the TIPU, but the use of fuels for “road transportation” in it is determined on the basis of the microdata on mileage derived from the Vehicle inspection Register coupled with the Vehicle Register. Mileage is turned into fuel consumption by means of technical coefficients.
18.5.4. Adjustments for residence principle
Road transport: emissions by non residents on the territory (split by gasoline and diesel) are assumed to be proportional to the share of non residents’ use on the territory out of total use on the territory (for the same energy product). At the same way, emissions abroad by resident units are assumed to be proportional to the share of residents' energy use abroad out of total use on the territory. The methodology uses jointly several data sources with the aim of estimating the mileage traveled in Italy by non-resident and abroad by residents.
Air transport: emissions are assumed to be proportional to the energy use by non-residents on the territory and residents abroad for national and international aviation derived by adjusted energy use data. OECD estimates are not incorporated into ours due to the different definition of resident company (country delivering the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) versus National accounts definition).
Water transport: estimates of emissions on the territory by non - residents and the emissions of residents abroad are derived from the adjusted energy use data, distinctly for residual fuel oil and diesel oil. Energy use data for the water transport mode are adjusted first by combining different sources: Energy Balance, Survey on Energy consumption (COEN), Foreign Trade of Goods and Services and the Balance of Payment and the Survey on International maritime transport. Emissions by non residents on the territory (split by diesel oil and residual oil) are assumed to be proportional to the share of non residents’ use on the territory out of total use on the territory. At the same way, emissions abroad by resident units are assumed to be proportional to the share of residents' energy use abroad out of total use on the territory.
18.6. Adjustment
No need for adjustments
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.
19 November 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).
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 approach used for the Italian AEA is the inventory-first approach.
In the first step, the inventories' emissions are adjusted for the residence principle. Then, the new totals, broken down according to a process-oriented nomenclature are re-arranged according to the Nace classification and private households’ consumption activity.
The main source of data for AEA is the Air emission inventory annually calculated by Istituto Superiore per la Ricerca e la Protezione Ambientale (Ispra) and used for the Italian communications within the framework of international conventions: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UNECE Convention on Long - range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP). Each year the whole time series are revised and new items added to the estimates. The allocation of inventories’ emissions to NACE+HH, mainly for heating and transport, is based on TIPU (Table of uses of energy products by type of purpose in physical units) a table for internal use, fully coherent with PEFA, but with details as for the purpose of use of the products by the different branches, that allowing better links to emissions. TIPU is also used for the national accounts estimates of use of energy products in monetary units.
Sources of energy use data include: Ministry of Economic Development (National Energy Balance and other energy statistics), Istat (Supply and Use Tables, Foreign trade data, Agriculture economic accounts, Register of Italian employers, Survey on Air Transport), ACI (Italian Vehicle Register), Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport (Italian Vehicles Inspection Register), Bank of Italy (Balance of Payment, Survey on International maritime transport, Survey on international tourism in Italy), TERNA (Italian Transmission System Operator for electricity).
Data are disseminated annually.
Average production time is 4 months.
AEA are nationally published usually in November, depending on Eurostat checks, i.e. with a delay of 23 months as for the non-provisional data.
AEA are compiled according to harmonised guidelines provided by Eurostat and hence comparable across European countries reporting AEA to Eurostat.
