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.
Environmental protection expenditure accounts (EPEA) describe transactions related to preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment. The main aggregate resulting from EPEA is national expenditure on environmental protection (NEEP), which measures the resources dedicated by resident businesses, households and government to protecting the natural environment. This aggregate covers uses of environmental protection services, investment (gross fixed capital formation) for environmental protection activities, and net transfers to the rest of the world for environmental protection. Countries are required to report on: output, consumption, imports and exports of environmental protection services, investment (gross fixed capital formation and acquisitions less disposals of non-produced non-financial assets) for the production of EP services, transfers for environmental protection.
3.2. Classification system
The scope of environmental protection is defined according to the Classification of Environmental Protection Ativities (CEPA), which distinguishes nine environmental domains. Data should be reported according to CEPA; however the mandatory part of the questionnaire restricts data collection to only some environmental domains (depending on the sector/variables).
3.3. Coverage - sector
Data are reported by institutional sector: general government, corporations, households and the rest of the world. NPISH (non-profit institutions serving households) are not separately identified and are included under general government. The corporations sector is divided between: "corporations as specialist and secondary producers of market EP services" and "corporations other, including corporations as producers of ancillary EP output"; productive activities of households are included under corporations as market producers.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The construction of the EPEA closely follows the concepts, definitions and accounting rules of the core national accounts. The SEEA-CF 2012 (section 4.2) identifies environmental protection activities as those activities whose primary purpose is the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution and other forms of degradation of the environment. These activities include, but are not limited to, the prevention, reduction or treatment of waste and wastewater; the prevention, reduction or elimination of air emissions; the treatment and disposal of contaminated soil and groundwater; the prevention or reduction of noise and vibration levels; the protection of biodiversity and landscapes, including of their ecological functions; monitoring of the quality of the natural environment (air, water, soil and groundwater); research and development on environmental protection; and the general administration, training and teaching activities oriented towards environmental protection.proposes to use the primary purpose criterion, recognising that many economic activities are undertaken for a variety of purposes, environmental and non-environmental ones.
3.5. Statistical unit
Environmental protection expenditure accounts present data, in a way that is compatible with the data reported under ESA, on the expenditure for environmental protection, i.e. the economic resources devoted by resident units to environmental protection. EPEA use statistical units from national accounts. National accounts define and use various statistical units and groupings of units that interact economically (see ESA 2010, §§ 1.54-1.56, 2.01-2.03).
3.6. Statistical population
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 to produce environmental protection specific services. While some economic activities may be undertaken only for a single purpose, many activities are undertaken for a variety of purposes. Following general principles of classification, activities are deemed to be environmental activities only if the primary purpose of the activity is consistent with the definitions of the environmental protection.
3.7. Reference area
The reference area of the statistics is Estonia.The reference area is the economic territory as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). A unit is said to be a resident unit of a country when it has its 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.
3.8. Coverage - Time
2014-2022
3.9. Base period
Not requested for this metadata collection.
Variables (output, intermediate consumption, investment etc.) are measured in million units of national currency (Euro).
The reference period for EPEA data is the calendar year.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
EPEA accounts are compiled and reported in accordance with Regulation (EU) No. 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts (EEEA). EPEA 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).
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
In order to receive necessary input data from data producing agencies contracts have been signed
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
The Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2009 on European statistics) applies for EPEA.
Data is considered confidential in Estonia if there are less than three producers under any given category or if one producer accounts for more than 90% of the production
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Data is considered confidential in Estonia if there are less than three producers under any given category or if one producer accounts for more than 90% of the production
8.1. Release calendar
Data are published once a year in December and the release calendar is publicly available
Most important handbook is EPEA handbook 2017. Methodological documents have been compiled during grant projects and have been sent to Eurostat.
10.6.1. Metadata completeness - rate
Not documented
10.7. Quality management - documentation
Not documented
11.1. Quality assurance
We don't have national quality documentation. Quality of results is checked with other available data sourves (National Accounts, EGSS etc)
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Not documented
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users are multiple environmental institutions and Ministry of Environment
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Views and opinions have been collected via consultations and yearly presentations of data. National users would like to have more information about RM categories
12.3. Completeness
All mandatory variables are compiled
12.3.1. Data completeness - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Multiple nationally recognized databases are used to ensure high level of accuracy. National account are used as a data source and as a means for validation - this should ensure compliance with the rules of national accounts. Our methods have been discussed with and approved by the experts of other NSI -s.
13.2. Sampling error
Accounts are compiled using a range of primary statistical sources. The sampling and non-sampling errors are described in the metadata of the underlying statistical data.
13.2.1. Sampling error - indicators
Accounts are compiled using a range of primary statistical sources. The sampling and non-sampling errors are described in the metadata of the underlying statistical data.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1. Coverage error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1.1. Over-coverage - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.1.2. Common units - proportion
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.2. Measurement error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3. Non response error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3.1. Unit non-response - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.3.2. Item non-response - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.4. Processing error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
13.3.5. Model assumption error
Not requested for this metadata collection.
14.1. Timeliness
EPEA is published T+24
14.1.1. Time lag - first result
EPEA is published T+24
14.1.2. Time lag - final result
Final results can be compiled when National Accounts have compiled SUT table. SUT is available T+36 months.
14.2. Punctuality
Deadline to transmit EPEA to Eurostat was 31 December 2024, we transmitted on 31 December 2024.
14.2.1. Punctuality - delivery and publication
Data was published on schedule
15.1. Comparability - geographical
EPEA is comparable geographically
15.1.1. Asymmetry for mirror flow statistics - coefficient
Not requested for this metadata collection.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Data are comparabale
15.2.1. Length of comparable time series
2014-2022
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
EPEA and EGSS in Estonia are compiled in parallel. The supply of characteristic EP services is the same for EGSS and EPEA.
15.3.1. Coherence - sub annual and annual statistics
Results are compared with EGSS, national accounts and SUT data.
15.3.2. Coherence - National Accounts
Results are compared with EGSS, national accounts and SUT data. National accounts measurement rules are followed and adjustments are made based on these rules.
15.4. Coherence - internal
National accounts measurement rules are followed and adjustments are made based on these rules.
0,6 full-time equivalents of work are required
17.1. Data revision - policy
Data are revised when new national accounts data are available. Data are final when SUT data are available for a given year.
17.2. Data revision - practice
Data are revised and corrected using national accounts and SUT as basis.
17.2.1. Data revision - average size
Not measured
18.1. Source data
"National accounts: production and generation of income account; final consumption expenditure of households; time series of GFCF; time series of net capital stock and consumption of fixed capital; full-time equivalent employment; input-output tables; survey on R&D; data for S15; Business Register: annual reports; Business Statistics: annual structural business statistics (EKOMAR); EPE survey (one for ancillary activity and one for secondary activity); Public Sector Financial Statements (PSFS); Water permits physical data on use and treatment (VEKA); Waste permits physical data on generation and treatment (JATS); Subsidies given by European Structural and Investment Funds and Estonian Environmental Investment Centre; The Estonian Road Administration; Balance of payments; EGSS
We use public sector financial statements for general government. Market output is calculated on the basis of receipts from services sold at economically significant prices (more than 50% of the production costs are covered by sales). We base our calculations on COFOG 05 but also add production data from other functions and take out CREMA part. In order to add other functions and subtract CREMA we use the list of environmental producers where we have detected all EP and RM producers and their CEPA or CREMA activities. NPISH are also included by using their annual reports.
We use decriptions of transfers to determine correct CEPA category. Data are gathered from various agencies that make the payments.
In order to calculate necessary variables of specialist and secondary producers we use various methodologies and data sources. Our calculations are mainly based on the list of EP producers where we have information about major part of EP producers in Estonia. Using the list we calculate output and other variables for all producers. For CEPA 2 and CEPA 3 we use physical amounts of wastewater and waste. For ancillary activity Mainly we use SBS. But for the compilation of EPEA we have used physical waste and wastewater amounts to calculate ancillary output for CEPA 3 and 2 from 2014. Ancillary activity of CEPA 8 is calculated using data from research and development survey.
Final consumption expenditure of households are available from national accounts
For exports and imports of EP services we use data from the balance of payments that we get from National Bank. In order to detect exports we also use the list of EP producers in order to see their exports. We can detect exports for all EP services and imports for CEPA 3. VAT is calculated only for wastewater and waste treatment services and measuring of the exhaust gases for households and for househols final consumpetion..
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Annually
18.3. Data collection
Data are mainly gathered from administrative data sources, SBS data are gathered via survey. 2 SBS surveys are used to collect environmental data - one is for secondary producers and other is for ancillary activity.
Data from secondary producers are collected from ca 200 enterprise. Investments, internal current expenditure and payments are asked from the enterprises.
Data for ancillary activity is collected from ca 1200 enterprises. We use a sample survey from small enterprises (less than 50 employees) and all bigger enterprises active in NACE 01-35 receive the questionnaire. Investments, internal current expenditure and payments are asked from the enterprises.
18.4. Data validation
We check all microdata, that is used to estimate ancillary activity. We compare data with EGSS, National Accounts and PSFS. As some differences between different accounts exist then these has to be considered while comparing. For example CEPA 3 in EPEA is larger than NACE 38 in National Accounts because CEPA 3 consists also other NACE categories. But we try to find reasons and explanations for differences as these accounts still have to be comparable.
18.5. Data compilation
Not applicable
18.5.1. Imputation - rate
Not requested for this metadata collection.
18.6. Adjustment
National accounts measurement rules are followed and adjustments are made based on these rules.
18.6.1. Seasonal adjustment
Not requested for this metadata collection.
No further comments.
Environmental protection expenditure accounts (EPEA) describe transactions related to preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment. The main aggregate resulting from EPEA is national expenditure on environmental protection (NEEP), which measures the resources dedicated by resident businesses, households and government to protecting the natural environment. This aggregate covers uses of environmental protection services, investment (gross fixed capital formation) for environmental protection activities, and net transfers to the rest of the world for environmental protection. Countries are required to report on: output, consumption, imports and exports of environmental protection services, investment (gross fixed capital formation and acquisitions less disposals of non-produced non-financial assets) for the production of EP services, transfers for environmental protection.
31 December 2024
The construction of the EPEA closely follows the concepts, definitions and accounting rules of the core national accounts. The SEEA-CF 2012 (section 4.2) identifies environmental protection activities as those activities whose primary purpose is the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution and other forms of degradation of the environment. These activities include, but are not limited to, the prevention, reduction or treatment of waste and wastewater; the prevention, reduction or elimination of air emissions; the treatment and disposal of contaminated soil and groundwater; the prevention or reduction of noise and vibration levels; the protection of biodiversity and landscapes, including of their ecological functions; monitoring of the quality of the natural environment (air, water, soil and groundwater); research and development on environmental protection; and the general administration, training and teaching activities oriented towards environmental protection.proposes to use the primary purpose criterion, recognising that many economic activities are undertaken for a variety of purposes, environmental and non-environmental ones.
Environmental protection expenditure accounts present data, in a way that is compatible with the data reported under ESA, on the expenditure for environmental protection, i.e. the economic resources devoted by resident units to environmental protection. EPEA use statistical units from national accounts. National accounts define and use various statistical units and groupings of units that interact economically (see ESA 2010, §§ 1.54-1.56, 2.01-2.03).
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 to produce environmental protection specific services. While some economic activities may be undertaken only for a single purpose, many activities are undertaken for a variety of purposes. Following general principles of classification, activities are deemed to be environmental activities only if the primary purpose of the activity is consistent with the definitions of the environmental protection.
The reference area of the statistics is Estonia.The reference area is the economic territory as defined in the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010). A unit is said to be a resident unit of a country when it has its 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.
The reference period for EPEA data is the calendar year.
Multiple nationally recognized databases are used to ensure high level of accuracy. National account are used as a data source and as a means for validation - this should ensure compliance with the rules of national accounts. Our methods have been discussed with and approved by the experts of other NSI -s.
Variables (output, intermediate consumption, investment etc.) are measured in million units of national currency (Euro).
Not applicable
"National accounts: production and generation of income account; final consumption expenditure of households; time series of GFCF; time series of net capital stock and consumption of fixed capital; full-time equivalent employment; input-output tables; survey on R&D; data for S15; Business Register: annual reports; Business Statistics: annual structural business statistics (EKOMAR); EPE survey (one for ancillary activity and one for secondary activity); Public Sector Financial Statements (PSFS); Water permits physical data on use and treatment (VEKA); Waste permits physical data on generation and treatment (JATS); Subsidies given by European Structural and Investment Funds and Estonian Environmental Investment Centre; The Estonian Road Administration; Balance of payments; EGSS
We use public sector financial statements for general government. Market output is calculated on the basis of receipts from services sold at economically significant prices (more than 50% of the production costs are covered by sales). We base our calculations on COFOG 05 but also add production data from other functions and take out CREMA part. In order to add other functions and subtract CREMA we use the list of environmental producers where we have detected all EP and RM producers and their CEPA or CREMA activities. NPISH are also included by using their annual reports.
We use decriptions of transfers to determine correct CEPA category. Data are gathered from various agencies that make the payments.
In order to calculate necessary variables of specialist and secondary producers we use various methodologies and data sources. Our calculations are mainly based on the list of EP producers where we have information about major part of EP producers in Estonia. Using the list we calculate output and other variables for all producers. For CEPA 2 and CEPA 3 we use physical amounts of wastewater and waste. For ancillary activity Mainly we use SBS. But for the compilation of EPEA we have used physical waste and wastewater amounts to calculate ancillary output for CEPA 3 and 2 from 2014. Ancillary activity of CEPA 8 is calculated using data from research and development survey.
Final consumption expenditure of households are available from national accounts
For exports and imports of EP services we use data from the balance of payments that we get from National Bank. In order to detect exports we also use the list of EP producers in order to see their exports. We can detect exports for all EP services and imports for CEPA 3. VAT is calculated only for wastewater and waste treatment services and measuring of the exhaust gases for households and for househols final consumpetion..
