INFORMATION FACTS DATA AND STATISTICS SEPTEMBER 2007
The use of data and statistics
Reporting on emissions, pollutant loads on the seas,
waste and hazardous substances
THE SWEDISH EPA’S INFORMATION FACTS PUBLICATIONS PRESENT FACTS IN RELATION TO VARIOUS ISSUES
INFORMATION
FACTS
To be able to improve the environment, we need a good supply of information about the factors that affect it. By reporting and publishing data and statistics on the emission of pollutants to water and air, on the pollutant loads on the seas, on waste quantities and on the emission of hazardous substances, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contributes knowledge and information which can be used to develop plans to reduce the impact on the environment.
-8.4 -5.8 -1.2 -0.7 1.8 3.3 6.4 6.5 9.9 13.1 14.6 17.9 31.2 2.3 7.9 -2.8 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 Sweden UK Germany France Netherlands Belgium Luxembourg Greece Ireland Denmark Italy Finland Portugal Austria Spain EU15
The figure is an example of how data from Sweden and other EU Member States are used by the European Environment Agency (EEA). It shows, as percentages, how far ahead (-) individual countries are of their commitments (0) under the Kyoto Protocol or how far they have to go (+) to achieve them. Source: EEA Website, www.eea.europa.eu.
CONVENTIONS, DIRECTIVES AND NATIONAL LAWS GOVERN OUR WORK
There are several bodies which place demands on and receive the data produced by the Swedish EPA’s Environmental Data Section. The main ones are Sweden’s Government and Parliament, the EU Commission, EEA (the European Environment Agency), Eurostat (the EU’s statistics agency), the UN, OSPAR (the Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic), HELCOM (The Helsinki Commission, Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission) and the OECD.
Distance in 2004 to commitments made at the EU level to reach emission-reduction targets for greenhouse gas under the Kyoto Protocol
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Examples of conventions, EC Directives and EC Regulations under which data are reported
• the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its associated Kyoto Protocol (on commitments by industrialised countries to reduce emissions); • the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP);
• the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer;
• the National Emission Ceilings Directive for certain atmospheric pollutants; • the EEC Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive;
• the EG Water Framework Directive;
• the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, and its associated Kiev Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR); • the implementation of a European Pollutant Emission Register (EPER); • the EC Regulation on waste statistics.
The Swedish EPA participates in international negotiations and working groups on the reporting and use of data. One aim of international cooperation is to enhance the quality of data and rationalise reporting to limit the reporting burden and costs of countries. We ensure that our reporting meets the requirements laid down in conventions and other regulations.
International requirements as to our reporting have increased, and thus so have costs. To enable Sweden to meet these requirements, the budget has been raised from SEK 16 million in 2001 to SEK 39 million (about 4.5 million €) in 2007.
COLLECTING DATA AND STATISTICS
For the compilation, development and quality assurance of data, we use consultants to a large extent. One important data provider is Swedish Methodology for Environmental Data (SMED) – a consortium consisting of the Swedish Meteorological and
Hydrological Institute, Statistics Sweden, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. We also obtain data from government agencies such as the Swedish National Road Administration, the Swedish Energy Agency and the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
In addition to this, we receive data on emissions reported by companies to
supervisory authorities in relation to activities that may be hazardous to the environment and require a permit under Chapter 9 of the Swedish Environmental Code. From 2007, companies can provide such data on the web directly to theSwedish Portal for Environmental Reporting (SMP), which is run by the Swedish EPA.
The data we collect relate to: • emissions to air;
• emissions to water and pollutant loads on the seas; • waste quantities;
• emissions of hazardous substances.
Our work includes ensuring the final electronic archiving of the data so that it will be possible to track emissions and pollutant loads over time in the future.
The Environmental Data Section of the Swedish EPA also coordinates the work of the Agency relating to Sweden’s official statistics. The areas concerned are emissions, waste, environmental permits and the application of the Swedish Environmental Code.
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EXAMPLES OF HOW REPORTED DATA AND STATISTICS ARE USED
The Environmental Data Section of the Swedish EPA reports data, accompanied by quality declarations, to both national and international bodies. At the national level, the data is among other things used to report the progress towards the national environmental quality objectives to the Government and Parliament. This is presented in a report entitled de Facto, which the Environmental Objectives Council submits each year to the Government.
Data on emissions and pollutant loads are also presented each year in the
Government’s spring fiscal policy bill to reflect part of the national development in the field of the environment.
Reporting of emissions to air
According to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, atmospheric
greenhouse gases are to stabilise at a level where human influence on the climate system is not harmful. One important use of the statistics on emissions to air is in the
Government’s regular monitoring of whether Sweden complies with the Kyoto Protocol, which lays down how emissions of greenhouse gases are to be limited. The data are sent to the EU Commission and the UN. The EU Commission also carries out its own monitoring of whether the EU as a whole is respecting its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. This work is done by its environment agency, the EEA, which uses statistics from the Member States. The EEA presents its findings in its report The European
Environment: State and Outlook, on the web and in other contexts.
Reporting of emissions to water and pollutant loads on the seas
Sweden’s coastal and maritime regions are affected by eutrophication and by elevated levels of organic pollutants and certain heavy metals. We report annually to the OSPAR and HELCOM maritime conventions, for instance on the amounts of nutrients supplied to the coasts and seas from various sources. These data are used to monitor the impact of international agreements to reduce emissions, and also in the planning of new measures for the maritime environment, such as the Baltic Sea Action Plan.
The figure is an example of the data reported on emissions of phosphorus to water from various sources in Sweden in 2000. Source: Swedish EPA.
Emissions of phosphorus to water in Sweden
0 500 1 000 1 500 2 000 2 500 3 000
Tonnes per year
Agricul-tural land Forest land Other
land Stormwater Muni- cipal waste- water treatment plants Single- household sewage system Industry Total Anthropogenic
Photo: Digital Vision
Swedish Environmental Protection Agency SE-106 48 Stockholm, Sweden. Visiting address: Valhallavägen 195, telephone: +46 8 698 10 00. Internet: www.naturvardsverket.se, e-mail: natur@naturvardsverket.se. Author: Susanna Schröder. Translation: Interverbum. Printed by: CM-Gruppen, Bromma. ISBN 91-620-8298-1.
Reporting of waste quantities
In 2005, the Swedish EPA produced a Strategy for Sustainable Waste Management
– Sweden’s Waste Plan (Swedish EPA Report 1248). Statistics make it possible to
compare the results achieved in Swedish waste management with the objectives set. For instance, evaluations have found that the producer responsibility introduced in Sweden just over ten years ago has led to increased recycling. In 2006, the Swedish EPA started reporting waste quantities to the EU under the new EC Regulation on waste statistics. The statistics are broken down into waste generated and waste treated in various sectors.
The figure is an example of how data on quantities of hazardous waste generated by a number of sectors in 2004 can be illustrated. Source: Swedish EPA.
Reporting on hazardous substances
The reporting on hazardous substances enables the general public to receive information about emissions into the environment. This issue is governed by the Kiev Protocol of the Aarhus Convention. Registers and databases which can be accessed via the Internet make it easier for Sweden to meet its commitments under the Convention.
In accordance with the Kiev Protocol, the EU presents an international Internet-based pollutant emission register (the EPER). The Swedish EPA’s register of emissions of pollutants, KUR, contains information about the emissions of certain hazardous substances from major plants and installations in Sweden. The
Environmental Data Section of the Swedish EPA produces data for both registers.
YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT environmental impacts, environmental permits and
topical issues on the websites of the Swedish EPA (http://www.naturvardsverket.se) and the European Environment Agency (http://www.eea.europa.eu/).
Textile industry
0 50 000 100 000 150 000 200 000 250 000 300 000 350 000 400 000
Mineral industry (mining) Food industry Manufacture of wood products Pulp and paper industry Oil refineries, coal, etc. Kemicals, rubber, plastic Non-metallic mineral products Production of metals and metal goods Machinery production Other manufacturing Energy generation and distribution Building and construction Recycling Wholesale waste and scrap trade Waste-water treatment, waste management Households
tonnes
Hazardous waste generated by various sectors
Photo: Digital Vision Photo: Bengt Littorin
