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
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
2 May 2023
2.2. Metadata last posted
2 May 2023
2.3. Metadata last update
2 May 2023
3.1. Data description
This dataset includes data on greenhouse gas emissions inventory, as reported to the European Environment Agency (EEA). Note that Eurostat is not the producer of these data, only re-publishes them.
The European Union (EU) as a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reports annually its greenhouse gas inventory for the year t-2 and within the area covered by its Member States. The inventory contains data on carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). The EU inventory is fully consistent with national greenhouse gas inventories compiled by the EU Member States.
The UNFCCC notation keys used in the original dataset published by the EEA cannot be one-to-one linked to the available flags in Eurobase. The following mapping is used:
EEA notation keys
Eurostat flag
Eurostat 'value'
NO (not occurring)
0
NE (not estimated)
: (missing)
NA (not applicable)
z (not applicable)
: (missing)
IE (included elsewhere)
d (definition difffers)
0
C (confidential)
c (confidential)
: (missing)
– (notation used by EEA for not applicable combinations generated by EEA itself)
z (not applicable)
: (missing)
In the EEA dataset, different combinations of the notation keys can exist. These are mapped to the extent possible by the restrictions in flag combinations in the Eurostat database. Below follow some examples of EEA notation key combinations and how these appear in the Eurostat database.
EEA notation key combination
Eurostat database representation
e.g. IE,NA / IE,NA,NO / NA,NE,IE
:(dz)
e.g. IE,NE / IE,NE,NO
:(d)
e.g. IE,NO
0(d)
e.g. NA,NE / NA,NO
:(z)
e.g. NE,NO
:
e.g. C,IE,NA,NE,NO
:(cd)
3.2. Classification system
The dataset has five dimensions:
1) Air pollutant (AIRPOL): Greenhouse gases CO2, N2O, CH4, HFC, PFC, SF6, NF3 and their aggregate (GHG). The fluorinated gases and the GHG aggregate are available only in CO2 equivalents.
2) Geopolitical entity (GEO): EU Member States, EFTA Countries, Candidate Countries. See details under point 3.7
3) Source sector for air emissions (SRC_CRF): Sectors are classified according to the Common Reporting Format (CRF) in line with the UNFCCC reporting requirements. See details under point 3.3
4) Period of time (TIME): Data are annual.
5) Unit (UNIT): Thousand tonnes and million tonnes
3.3. Coverage - sector
The sectors are classified following emission source sectors as established by the IPCC and that these cannot be directly compared to economic sectors classified by NACE.
Please note that memo items are not separately reported but are an integral part of the sector classification. The sectors concerned are indicated by adding (memo item) to the label.
The following totals are published in the dataset:
Eurostat code
Eurostat label
Label in the GHG inventory published by EEA
TOTAL
Total (all sectors including memo items and indirect CO2)
-
TOTXMEMO
Total (excluding memo items)
Total net emissions (UNFCCC)
TOTX4_MEMO
Total (excluding LULUCF and memo items)
Total emissions (UNFCCC)
TOTX4_MEMONIA
Total (excluding LULUCF and memo items, including international aviation)
Total emissions with international aviation (EU 2020)
TOTXMEMONIA
Total (excluding memo items, including international aviation)
Total net emissions with international aviation (EU NDC)
TOTX4_MEMONIT
Total (excluding LULUCF and memo items, including international transport)
Total emissions with international transport (EEA)
TOTXMEMONIT
Total (excluding memo items, including international transport)
Total net emissions with international transport (EEA)
Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics (recital 24 and Article 20(4)) of 11 March 2009 (OJ L 87, p. 164), stipulates the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and the access to those confidential data with due account for technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
See point 7.1.
8.1. Release calendar
The EEA publishes the validated GHG inventory data in May. Eurostat republishes the data shortly after.
8.2. Release calendar access
Not applicable.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on Eurostat's website (see item 10 - 'Accessibility and clarity') respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. The detailed arrangements are governed by the Eurostat protocol on impartial access to Eurostat data for users.
Users include policy makers in environmental administrations, environmental organisations, students and interested citizens.
The information is very relevant in the combat against climate change and it is used to monitor the targets set.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Not applicable.
12.3. Completeness
Data are complete.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
See 10.6.
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable.
14.1. Timeliness
The European Environment Agency (EEA) publishes data 18 months after the reference year.
14.2. Punctuality
Not applicable.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Comparability across countries is considered good.
15.2. Comparability - over time
Comparability over time is considered good.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Data are coherent with international guidelines.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence is high.
Eurostat is not the producer of the data. Therefore the cost and burden for Eurostat is limited.
17.1. Data revision - policy
All data disseminated consist of data already disseminated by the European Environment Agency. The revision policy is therefore effectively the revision policy applied by the European Environment Agency.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The revision practice effectively corresponds to the revision practice of the European Environment Agency – but with a revision periodicity corresponding to the Eurostat retrieval schedule.
Each year, when data are retrieved by Eurostat from the GHG inventory, all of the already disseminated data are updated.
Eurostat downloads data from EEA website and republishes it.
18.6. Adjustment
Not applicable.
None.
This dataset includes data on greenhouse gas emissions inventory, as reported to the European Environment Agency (EEA). Note that Eurostat is not the producer of these data, only re-publishes them.
The European Union (EU) as a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reports annually its greenhouse gas inventory for the year t-2 and within the area covered by its Member States. The inventory contains data on carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3). The EU inventory is fully consistent with national greenhouse gas inventories compiled by the EU Member States.
The UNFCCC notation keys used in the original dataset published by the EEA cannot be one-to-one linked to the available flags in Eurobase. The following mapping is used:
EEA notation keys
Eurostat flag
Eurostat 'value'
NO (not occurring)
0
NE (not estimated)
: (missing)
NA (not applicable)
z (not applicable)
: (missing)
IE (included elsewhere)
d (definition difffers)
0
C (confidential)
c (confidential)
: (missing)
– (notation used by EEA for not applicable combinations generated by EEA itself)
z (not applicable)
: (missing)
In the EEA dataset, different combinations of the notation keys can exist. These are mapped to the extent possible by the restrictions in flag combinations in the Eurostat database. Below follow some examples of EEA notation key combinations and how these appear in the Eurostat database.
