European environmental economic accounts: new modules
PURPOSE: to introduce new modules on environmental accounts into the existing legal framework for European statistics on European economic accounts for the environment.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2024/3024 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 as regards introducing new environmental economic account modules.
CONTENT: the amended regulation aims to provide better information for the European Green Deal, in order to support monitoring and evaluation of the EU’s progress in meeting its environmental objectives.
New account modules
Relevant and detailed data from Member States is key to keeping the EU on track to meet the European Green Deal objectives. Therefore, the new regulation introduces three new environmental account modules for more comprehensive monitoring:
(1) Forest accounts record and present data on forest resources and economic activity in the forestry and logging industry in a way that is fully compatible with the data reported under the ESA 2010. Forest accounts provide complementary information and use concepts adapted to the particular nature of forests and of the forestry and logging industry. They record the stocks and flows of forest resources (wooded land and timber) and economic activity in the forestry and logging industry, including production of roundwood and the extraction and gathering of wild growing non-wood forest products.
(2) Environmental subsidies collect and present data on current and capital transfers intended to support activities that protect the environment and natural resources, including the production and use of environmental products, in a way that is compatible with the concepts and definitions of the ESA 2010. These accounts record unrequited payments from the general government to institutional sectors (within the domestic economy and to the rest of the world) and from non-residents (rest of the world), for the purpose of protecting the environment or reducing the use and extraction of natural resources.
(3) Ecosystem accounts, which provide data on the extent and condition of ecosystems and on the services delivered to society and the economy by ecosystem assets. Ecosystem accounts record the extent of ecosystems, the condition of ecosystems, and the flows of ecosystem services.
Member States will start reporting these data to the Commission (Eurostat) in 2025 and 2026.
The Commission may adopt implementing acts granting derogations to Member States in so far as their national statistical systems require major adaptions.
Programme of pilot studies
The Commission will draw up a programme for pilot studies to be carried out by Member States on a voluntary basis in order to develop reporting and improve data quality, establish long time series and develop methodology. The programme will include pilot studies to test the new environmental economic account modules. In drawing up the programme, the Commission will give particular attention to modules producing data on energy subsidies, including fossil fuel subsidies, and ensure that no additional administrative or financial burdens are placed on the Member States and on the respondent units.
Statistical data portal
The amended regulation introduces a new statistical data portal (statistical dashboard) for environmental economic accounts, which will summarise the key indicators and data from those accounts in an understandable and accessible way for all users. It will also contain data on climate change mitigation investments by member states.
The data portal will be operated by the Commission (Eurostat) from December 2024 and will be updated once a year. It will be publicly available on the Eurostat website.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 26.12.2024.