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
Restricted from publication
1.4. Contact person function
Restricted from publication
1.5. Contact mail address
2920 Luxembourg LUXEMBOURG
1.6. Contact email address
Restricted from publication
1.7. Contact phone number
Restricted from publication
1.8. Contact fax number
Restricted from publication
2.1. Metadata last certified
25 October 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
25 October 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
25 October 2024
3.1. Data description
The European Union (EU) as a party to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) reports annually its air pollution inventory for the year t-2 and within the area covered by its Member States. Under the Convention, parties are obliged to report emissions data for numerous air pollutants.
This dataset includes data on air pollutants: sulphur oxides (SOx), ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), particulate matters (PM10, PM2.5), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se) and Zinc (Zn), as reported to the European Environment Agency (EEA). The EU inventory is fully consistent with national air pollution inventories compiled by the EU Member States.
Note that Eurostat is not the producer of these data, only re-publishes them. The producer of the data is the European Environment Agency.
The reference area is the geographical territory of the reporting countries.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Complete time series are available from 1990 to latest reported inventory year (t-2).
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Tonnes
Calendar year
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
The Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution was the first international legally binding instrument to deal with problems of air pollution on a broad regional basis. It was signed in 1979 and entered into force in 1983. It has since been extended by eight specific protocols.
Directive 2001/81/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on National Emission Ceilings for certain pollutants (NEC Directive) sets upper limits for each Member State for the certain pollutants responsible for acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone pollution.
Within the EU inventory system, the European Environment Agency is responsible for the annual compilation of the EU inventory.
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not applicable.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
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
Data are not bound by an advance release calendar.
The EEA publishes the validated air pollution inventory data in August. Eurostat re-publishes 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.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
There are no studies of user satisfaction.
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
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, ensurred by harmonised methodologies used by parties.
See 10.6.
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 air pollutants inventory, all of the already disseminated data are updated.
The European Union (EU) as a party to the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) reports annually its air pollution inventory for the year t-2 and within the area covered by its Member States. Under the Convention, parties are obliged to report emissions data for numerous air pollutants.
This dataset includes data on air pollutants: sulphur oxides (SOx), ammonia (NH3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs), particulate matters (PM10, PM2.5), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Chromium (Cr) Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Selenium (Se) and Zinc (Zn), as reported to the European Environment Agency (EEA). The EU inventory is fully consistent with national air pollution inventories compiled by the EU Member States.
Note that Eurostat is not the producer of these data, only re-publishes them. The producer of the data is the European Environment Agency.
