65 Components of the FDES and the Basic Set of Environment Statistics 65 3.156. Emissions are substances released to the environment by establishments and house holds as a result of production, consumption and accumulation processes. Emissions can be released to air, water (as part of wastewater) and soil. Generally, emissions are analysed by the type of receiving environment (air, water or soil) and type of substance. 3.157. Wastewater is discarded water that is no longer required by the owner or user. Waste water usually (but not always) carries pollution from the processes in which the water was used (emissions to water). Water discharged into sewers, received by water treatment plants and discharged to the environment is all considered wastewater regardless of its quality. It also includes reused water, which is wastewater supplied to a user for further use with or without prior treatment. 3.158. Waste covers discarded materials that are no longer required by the owner or user. It includes materials in solid or liquid state but excludes wastewater and emissions to air, water or soil. 3.159. A special category of residuals results from the dissipative uses of products, which cover products that are deliberately released to the environment as part of production processes. Examples are the application of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides, part of which may be absorbed in the production process while the rest will remain in the environment and may cause pollution. 3.160. The SEEA-CF also accounts for residuals in terms of dissipative losses, natural resource residuals and losses. Dissipative losses are material residues that are an indirect result of production and consumption activity. For more detailed discussion see the SEEA-CF, paras. 3.97-3.103. 3.161. Statistics on residuals must be broken down according to the economic activity that generated them, based on ISIC. Special attention should be paid to estimating residuals gener ated by international transport and tourism in order to calculate SEEA physical flow accounts. 3.162. Residuals have an impact on environmental quality that can be measured in terms of their concentrations in those media covered in Subcomponent 1.3: Environmental Quality. 3.163. Component 3 contains four subcomponents: i. Subcomponent 3.1: Emissions to Air; ii. Subcomponent 3.2: Generation and Management of Wastewater; iii. Subcomponent 3.3: Generation and Management of Waste; and iv. Subcomponent 3.4: Release of Chemical Substances. Subcomponent 3.1: Emissions to Air 3.164. Air pollution can be caused by natural as well as anthropogenic factors. The FDES focuses on the emission of pollutants from anthropogenic factors that are socioeconomic pro cesses. Emissions to air are gaseous and particulate substances released to the atmosphere by establishments and households as a result of production, consumption and accumulation processes. The statistical description of such emissions covers their sources and the quantities emitted by substance. 3.165. Policymakers, analysts and civil society need statistics on emissions to air to monitor the amount and type of emissions over time and across locations. These statistics can be used for evidence-based policymaking, particularly with regard to environmental regulations (e.g., maximum allowable emission levels versus actual levels). They can also be used to model where the greatest impacts on humans from air pollution may occur. These statistics are also required to monitor adherence to any MEAs, particularly the Kyoto and Montreal protocols, to which the country may be a party.
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 66 3.166. Air emissions may be measured directly or estimated on the basis of fuel and other material input data and process-specific emission factors. This information is usually produced in the form of emission inventories, available primarily from environmental ministries or envi ronmental protection authorities. Emissions to air can be distinguished by the type of source (e.g., stationary or mobile, point or diffuse), by process, and by economic activity based on ISIC. 3.167. The groups of chemicals relevant to statistics on emissions to air include sulphur com pounds, oxidized nitrogen compounds and oxidants, reduced nitrogen compounds, inorganic carbon compounds, halogen and inorganic halogen compounds, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals and different fractions of particulate matter (PM). The UNECE Standard Statisti cal Classification of Ambient Air Quality (1990) lists the substances, parameters and variables needed for statistics on air emissions. Topic 3.1.1: Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) 3.168. GHG emissions constitute a special category of air emissions. GHG emission inven tories are compiled based on the guidelines developed by the IPCC, under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The source categories of GHG emissions are based on processes. The categories of sinks for GHG emissions are also included. GHGs include both direct and indirect GHGs. The most important direct GHGs are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), and the most important indirect GHGs are sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NM-VOCs). 3.169. While the IPCC guidelines prescribe process-based source categories, sources must be broken down by economic activity based on ISIC, to ensure consistency with and linkages to economic statistics. GHGs from international transport and tourism must be estimated to pro duce emission accounts. Air emissions generated by tourists may also be estimated to measure the environmental impacts of tourism. Table 3.3.1.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 3.1.1 Component 3: Residuals Subcomponent 3.1: Emissions to Air Topic 3.1.1: Emissions of greenhouse gases Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text—Tier 3) a. Total emissions of direct greenhouse gases (GHGs), by gas: •• By ISIC economic activity •• By tourists •• National •• Subnational •• By IPCC source categories •• IPCC Emission Factor Database •• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Reporting Guidelines •• UNECE Standard Statistical Classification of Ambient Air Quality (1990) •• UNSD: MDG Indicator 7.2 Metadata •• WHO
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) Mass
- Methane (CH4) Mass
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) Mass
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) Mass
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) Mass
- Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) Mass b. Total emissions of indirect greenhouse gases (GHGs), by gas:
- Sulphur dioxide (SO2) Mass
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx) Mass
- Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NM-VOCs) Mass
- Other Mass
67 Components of the FDES and the Basic Set of Environment Statistics 67 Topic 3.1.2: Consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODSs) 3.170. ODS is another important category of emissions that is actively monitored by the Mon treal Protocol. Reported statistics worldwide have shown this protocol to be very effective in phasing out the use of these substances. Examples of ODSs include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachlo ride and methyl bromide. However, as emissions of these substances are difficult to measure directly, countries report on the apparent consumption of ODSs. Table 3.3.1.2 Statistics and related information for Topic 3.1.2 Component 3: Residuals Subcomponent 3.1: Emissions to Air Topic 3.1.2: Consumption of ozone depleting substances Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text—Tier 3) a. Consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODSs), by substance: •• By ISIC economic activity •• By tourists •• National •• Subnational •• By IPCC source categories •• UNEP Ozone Secretariat •• IPCC Emission Factor Database •• UNECE Standard Statistical Classification of Ambient Air Quality (1990) •• UNSD: MDG Indicator 7.3 Metadata •• WHO
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Mass
- Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) Mass
- Halons Mass
- Methyl chloroform Mass
- Carbon tetrachloride Mass
- Methyl bromide Mass
- Other Mass Table 3.3.1.3 Statistics and related information for Topic 3.1.3 Component 3: Residuals Subcomponent 3.1: Emissions to Air Topic 3.1.3: Emissions of other substances Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text—Tier 3) a. Emissions of other substances: •• By ISIC economic activity •• By tourists •• National •• Subnational •• By IPCC source categories •• UNECE Standard Statistical Classification of Ambient Air Quality (1990) •• European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
- Particulate matter (PM) Mass
- Heavy metals Mass
- Other Mass Topic 3.1.3: Emissions of other substances 3.171. Other environmentally important polluting substances are emitted to air beyond GHGs and ODSs. The most important are the different fractions of PM, which is an air pollut ant consisting of mixed solid (i.e., dust) and liquid particles suspended in the air. PM eventually concentrates in the air and is measured to establish pollution levels (for instance as PM2.5 and PM10, see Topic 1.3.1: Air Quality). Furthermore, the particulate material contains different chemical elements and compounds that can be harmful beyond the potential impact of dust. For example, PM can contain chemical constituents such as sulphates, nitrates and ammo nium. PM can be formed by suspension of soil and dust or from gaseous precursors such as SO2, NOx, ammonia and NM-VOCs. Other potentially harmful emissions include heavy metals (such as cadmium, lead and mercury) and other substances that are linked to environmental and health problems. Countries may wish to measure or estimate a variety of other emissions, based on national circumstances and priorities.
Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics (FDES 2013) 68 Subcomponent 3.2: Generation and Management of Wastewater 3.172. This subcomponent contains statistics on the generation, management and discharge of wastewater, as well as the pollutant content of wastewater (emissions of substances to water). Policymakers, analysts and civil society need statistics on wastewater to properly manage this potentially harmful by-product of the human subsystem. Without statistics on the generation, management and discharge of wastewater, it is difficult to assess and possibly intervene with regard to wastewater volume and pollution levels. Other policy relevant wastewater statistics include a disaggregation by economic activity of responsibility for its generation, whether the wastewater is being treated and what is being emitted to the country’s water bodies. 3.173. Administrative records and in some cases estimation outputs are the most commonly used type of statistical source. Countries usually report their wastewater and discharges to water based on statistics from the final treatment or collecting institution(s), or when no waste water treatment is in place, by estimating from the water used by different activities (e.g., house holds, industries) using technological coefficients. The main institutional partner will be the water and wastewater authorities or institutions in charge of water supply, collection, treatment and/or final discharge of wastewater to the environment (e.g., water regulating bodies, water authorities, municipalities, water utilities and wastewater treatment plants). Topic 3.2.1: Generation and pollutant content of wastewater 3.174. This topic includes statistics on the volume of water that is no longer required and is thus discarded by the user and statistics on the amount of pollutants contained in wastewater (emissions to water) before any collection or treatment. Statistics on the generation of waste water and emissions to water should be broken down by the economic activity and households that generate them. The amount of wastewater generated by tourists can also be estimated to measure the environmental impact of tourism. Wastewater generation is usually estimated based on the volume of water used. The pollutant content of wastewater (emissions to water) can usually be obtained from monitoring at the place of generation or from estimates based on technological parameters. Table 3.3.2.1 Statistics and related information for Topic 3.2.1 Component 3: Residuals Subcomponent 3.2: Generation and Management of Wastewater Topic 3.2.1: Generation and pollutant content of wastewater Statistics and related information Category of measurement Potential aggregations and scales Methodological guidance (Bold text—Core Set/Tier 1; regular text—Tier 2; italicized text—Tier 3) a. Volume of wastewater generated Volume •• By ISIC economic activity •• By tourists •• National •• Subnational •• UNSD: IRWS •• ISIC Rev. 4, Section E, Divisions 35-37 •• SEEA Water •• UNSD: Environment Statistics Section—Water Questionnaire b. Pollutant content of wastewater Mass •• By pollutant or pollution parameter (e.g., biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, phosphorous, total suspended solids (TSS)) •• By ISIC economic activity •• National •• Subnational