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.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
European Commission, Eurostat,
Joseph Bech Building 5, rue Alphonse Weicker L-2721 Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURG
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
17 October 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
17 October 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
17 October 2024
3.1. Data description
While the environmental accounts are a multipurpose data system defined in the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 - Central Framework (SEEA-CF 2012, United Nations et al., 2014a), it does not yet measure some environmental policy themes emerging, such as climate change mitigation. Eurostat, in cooperation with the Member States, is working to put in place data requirements on climate change mitigation investments. First national data using the environmental accounts framework and additional data sources are expected to be disseminated in 2026.
For this dissemination, the results are based on a methodology developed in 2021-2023 within a Eurostat project. The project started with the circular economy economic measures development and was extended to climate change mitigation, adaptation and bio-economy. The methodology set in the project is the following:
firstly to define what climate change mitigation is;
secondly to delineate climate change mitigation economic activities and
thirdly to estimate macroeconomic indicators using SBS, national accounts and other data sources.
We focus here on climate change mitigation. The estimation method puts assumption on the share related to climate change mitigation, to apply to each economic activity.
3.2. Classification system
The estimations are compiled using mainly data at NACE 4-digit level (classes) and using products data based on the Prodcom classification. However, aggregation of the NACE 4-digit level to section level is calculated and disseminated.
The institutional sector’s breakdown follows the national accounts methodology (ESA 2010).
3.3. Coverage - sector
The coverage is defined according to NACE economic activities. Not all economic activities are covered due mainly to the coverage of the SBS data collection (see below).
However, for agriculture, activities 01.1, 02.1 and 02.2 are included. Section B is not included in the climate change mitigation scope. The full list of activities included is given in the annex (see point 19.)
Starting with reference year 2021, SBS cover the economic activities of market producers within the NACE Rev. 2 Sections B to N, P to R and Divisions S95 and S96. This includes mining and quarrying, industry, water supply and sewerage, construction, trade, and most of the service activities. SBS do neither cover agriculture, forestry and fishing, nor public administration or (largely) non-market services such as education and health.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Climate change mitigation is defined as follows: the climate change mitigation sector is a sub-sector of the whole economy. Economic goods and services of the climate change mitigation sector are those that substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by source or from the atmosphere. It reflects the UNFCCC (based on IPCC) internationally accepted definition.
The investments are defined using the SBS approach on “investment in tangible goods”, which is more restrictive than gross fixed capital formation (see ESA 2010). Gross fixed capital formation reflects investments in tangible and intangible goods.
3.5. Statistical unit
As the results are based on SBS data at country-level, the statistical units applied is the enterprise.
The statistical population is the national economy and includes corporations undertaking activities mitigating climate change.
3.7. Reference area
EU Member States and EU-27 aggregates.
3.8. Coverage - Time
The results present a time series starting in 2005 until 2023 (for unit million euro). Coverage is restricted by the time coverage of the available source data.
3.9. Base period
The concept of chain-linked volumes is applied. Eurostat currently chooses 2015 as reference year to which volume indices are chain-linked and applied to investment data given at current prices. This generates volume estimates that are corrected for price effects for any observed year (see also point 18.5).
Investments are measured in million EUR, in percent of gross domestic product and in million EUR as chain linked volumes, reference year 2015.
The reference period is the calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Currently not applicable.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
No data sharing arrangements are in place. Eurostat makes available aggregates of all validated non-confidential data on its dissemination website for all users, including European institutions and international organisations.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Not applicable.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Not applicable.
8.1. Release calendar
Data are estimated by Eurostat and will be published on annual basis towards end of the year. However, there is no fixed calendar release date.
Eurostat disseminates European statistics on its website (see section 10.3 - 'Dissemination format') in an objective, professional, and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. Eurostat maintains professional independence. The data release is governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
The dissemination of data is planned on annual basis.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Not applicable.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
The data on climate change mitigation investments will be published as one indicator in the Environmental Accounts Dashboard of Eurostat.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Data is accessible through the Eurostat online database, under env_ac_ccminv, in the Environmental goods and services sector heading.
Eurostat evaluates the results of the estimation procedure. The results are fully based on estimation techniques for the dataset disseminated in 2024.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The data are assessed to be of good quality.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The climate change mitigation investments estimation provides important information for the policy initiatives, in particular to the EU climate neutrality target of 2050.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There are no systematic studies on user satisfaction. Eurostat has regular hearings with European policymakers and contacts with the research community and other stakeholders to monitor the relevance of statistics produced and identify new priorities.
12.3. Completeness
The estimation procedure provides data for each EU Member State.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Not applicable.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
Not applicable.
14.2. Punctuality
Data is available and published the year after the reference year.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Comparability of EU Member States is ensured by a common estimation procedure.
15.2. Comparability - over time
The comparability overtime relies on the time series consistency of the different data sources, in particular SBS data and national accounts data.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Not applicable.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The general Eurostat revision policy applies to this domain.
17.2. Data revision - practice
All reported errors (once validated) result in corrections of the disseminated data.
Reported errors that are deemed to be significant are corrected in the disseminated data as soon as the correct data have been validated.
Data are only published once they are deemed to be sufficiently complete for all data providers contributing to the aggregate.
New data are only used to update disseminated data if provided according to the provision schedule set by Eurostat.
18.1. Source data
Data sources are Structural Business Statistics, prodcom statistics, national accounts data.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Not applicable.
18.3. Data collection
Not applicable.
18.4. Data validation
Eurostat analyses the results of the estimation procedure.
18.5. Data compilation
The compilation of the climate change mitigation investments uses the software R.
18.6. Adjustment
Adjustments have been made to NACE H4910 estimated results in order to better fit the overall trend of the available SBS data on NACE H49.
While the environmental accounts are a multipurpose data system defined in the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 - Central Framework (SEEA-CF 2012, United Nations et al., 2014a), it does not yet measure some environmental policy themes emerging, such as climate change mitigation. Eurostat, in cooperation with the Member States, is working to put in place data requirements on climate change mitigation investments. First national data using the environmental accounts framework and additional data sources are expected to be disseminated in 2026.
For this dissemination, the results are based on a methodology developed in 2021-2023 within a Eurostat project. The project started with the circular economy economic measures development and was extended to climate change mitigation, adaptation and bio-economy. The methodology set in the project is the following:
firstly to define what climate change mitigation is;
secondly to delineate climate change mitigation economic activities and
thirdly to estimate macroeconomic indicators using SBS, national accounts and other data sources.
We focus here on climate change mitigation. The estimation method puts assumption on the share related to climate change mitigation, to apply to each economic activity.
17 October 2024
Climate change mitigation is defined as follows: the climate change mitigation sector is a sub-sector of the whole economy. Economic goods and services of the climate change mitigation sector are those that substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions by source or from the atmosphere. It reflects the UNFCCC (based on IPCC) internationally accepted definition.
The investments are defined using the SBS approach on “investment in tangible goods”, which is more restrictive than gross fixed capital formation (see ESA 2010). Gross fixed capital formation reflects investments in tangible and intangible goods.
As the results are based on SBS data at country-level, the statistical units applied is the enterprise.
