KS-32-10-283-EN-C in Europe and accounts statistics Environmental Statistical books Environmental statistics and accounts in Europe Environmental statistics One of the priorities of the European Commission is a better environment for everyone, now and for and accounts in Europe generations to come. Statistics are increasingly important for the definition, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of environmental policies. Environmental statistics and accounts in Europe- presents a selection of environmental statistics and accounts available at Eurostat and its partner institutions, such as the Directorate-General for the Environment of the European Commission and the European Environment Agency with its Topic Centres. It is an attempt to provide standardised information on various aspects of the environment to the general public. The publication is based on analyses and interpretation of raw data from the 27 Member States, the candidate and EFTA countries. It covers key areas related to environmental statistics and accounts: European household consumption patterns, material flows, waste, water, air emissions, chemicals, biodiversity, land use, agri-environmental indicators, forestry, environmental protection expenditure and environmental taxes. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat 2010 edition ISBN 978-92-79-15701-1 2010 edition 9 789279157011 HOW TO OBTAIN EU PUBLICATIONS Free publications: • via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu); • at the European Union’s representations or delegations. You can obtain their contact details on the Internet (http://ec.europa.eu) or by sending a fax to +352 2929-42758. Priced publications: • via EU Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu). Priced subscriptions (e.g. annual series of the Official Journal of the European Union and reports of cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union): • via one of the sales agents of the Publications Office of the European Union (http://publications. europa.eu/others/agents/index_en.htm). Statistical books Environmental statistics and accounts in Europe 2010 edition Europe Direct is a service to help you find answers to your questions about the European Union. Freephone number (*): 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (*) Certain mobile telephone operators do not allow access to 00 800 numbers or these calls may be billed. More information on the European Union is available on the Internet (http://europa.eu). Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010 ISBN 978-92-79-15701-1 doi:10.2785/48676 Cat. No: KS-32-10-283-EN-C Theme: Environment and energy Collection: Statistical books © European Union, 2010 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Copyright for the photos: Cover, chapters 1 and 8: © Phovoir; Foreword, chapters 2, 5, 10 and 11: © European Union; Chapter 3: © Romary (source: Wikimedia); Chapter 4: © J. Förster; Chapter 6: © Joe Sullivan (source: Wikimedia, original source: Flickr: Flasks); Chapter 7: © Le Guilloux et al., 2010; Chapter 9: © M. Wolf-Crowther Printed in Belgium PRINTED ON ELEMENTAL CHLORINE-FREE BLEACHED PAPER (ECF) Foreword Foreword Dear Reader, Statistical information is essential for understanding our complex and rapidly changing world. Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the Euro­ pean Union, collects, produces and disseminates harmonised statistics at European level. It gets most of its data from the national statisti­ cal authorities in the Member States and then processes, analyses and publishes that data following common statistical concepts, methods and standards. Eurostat also supports and encourages the develop­ ment of similar statistical systems in countries neighbouring the Euro­ pean Union, thereby driving a process of statistical harmonisation. One of the priorities of the European Commission is a better envir­ onment for everyone, now and for generations to come. Statistics are increasingly important for the definition, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of environmental policies, in particular the sixth environment action programme, its implementing seven ‘thematic strategies’, the environmental dimension of the EU sustainable development strategy, and the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, adopted by the European Council in June 2010. Reliable statistics are also needed to facilitate policy coordination among Member States and to reinforce a commitment towards sustainable develop­ ment and environmental goals. This publication covers key environmental statistics and accounts available at Eurostat and its part­ ner institutions, such as the Directorate­General for the Environment of the European Commission and the European Environment Agency with its Topic Centres. It is an attempt designed to provide standardised information on various aspects of the environment to the general public. The aim of this publication is to give you a flavour of some of the environmental statistics and accounts which enable us to identify environmental pressures related to our production and con­ sumption patterns. It provides a wide­ranging overview of developments over recent years in the European Union, its Member States and selected partner countries. It is also an eloquent testimony to the progress made by the countries to reach environmental targets and highlights those areas where increased efforts will be needed to reach our goal of a better environment. The 11 chapters of this publication cover our work on environmental topics with data from the 27 Member States and the candidate and EFTA countries. In addition, methodological sections provide essential meta­information on the data presented. The aim is to encourage readers to track down the environmental data available on the Eurostat website and make their own analyses. Our website (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat) offers you free access to nearly all Eurostat data presented in this publication. I hope this publication will encourage you to use Eurostat’s data for your infor­ mation needs and daily work. I wish you an enjoyable reading experience! Walter Radermacher Director-General, Eurostat Chief Statistician of the European Union Environmental statistics and accounts in Europe 3 Abstract Abstract An easy-to-use publication European institutions are developing publica­ tions on the environment. For these reasons, This publication provides a picture of the inter­ actions between the environment and the EU ‘Further information’ is included at the end of society on its way towards sustainable develop­ each chapter to indicate how to get more Euro­ ment. stat data and analysis and what other informa­ tion is available at other European institutions It is based on analyses and interpretation of raw or internationally recognised organisations. data in the key areas related to environmental statistics and accounts: European household con­ At the end of each chapter, Methodological notes sumption patterns, material flows, waste, water, air provide definitions and a brief description of the emissions, chemicals, biodiversity, land use, agri­ data sources and the quality of the data. environmental indicators, forestry, environmental The balance of the information presented within protection expenditure and environmental taxes. the publication reflects to some degree the volume Using environment statistics and accounts means of information available under each of the themes having a finger on the pulse of current develop­ within Eurostat’s dissemination database, while ments in Europe: the publication presents back­ also attempting to provide information that is of ground figures and facts needed to understand particular interest for the general public. these developments. The publication is divided into 11 chapters, each A publication designed for everyone with of which contains information relating to a par­ an interest in the environment ticular topic. The publication is part of Eurostat’s current dis­ Within each chapter, double facing pages focus on semination strategy accompanying the vast array a particular subject: most start with a short intro- of official statistics freely available on Eurostat’s ductory text that provides contextual information website. (such as policy background), as well as the rele­ The publication provides an overview of data vance of the information presented. that is available within Eurostat’s dissemination Thecore of each chapter presents main findings, database. features and facts on the subject concerning the situation and trends at European level, compari­ However, the publication is not a mere collection sons between countries and the evolution of the of environment statistics and accounts, but shows subject compared to policy targets. To facili­ how benchmark figures and indicators have devel­ tate international comparison, some chapters oped over recent years in the European Union include the comparable data for other countries and the EU Member States, allows comparisons outside the EU. Graphs, figures, tables and maps between countries and between the EU and other are introduced with a sentence that summarise parts of the world and evaluates progress towards the key messages provided. Examples and Euro­ environmental policy targets. pean legislation and policies related to the topic Eurostat publications can be ordered via EU are highlighted in green boxes. Bookshop (http://bookshop.europa.eu). All pub­ Eurostat offers a wide range of statistical infor­ lications are also downloadable free of charge in mation on its website that can be consulted PDF format from the Eurostat