Environmental goods and services

National Statistical Institute

‘Environmental and Energy Accounts‘ Department

Ivaylo Rangelov

State expert

Panayot Volov Str. 2 1038 Sofia, Bulgaria

[email protected]

(+359 2) 9857 642

Not available.

Data for the environmental goods and services sector include the following economic variables: output valued at basic prices (purchaser prices), gross value added and employment solely in environmental activities, according to the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting 2012 – Central Framework (SEEA SF 2012) by economic activity, according to the Classification of Economic Activities (NACE Rev.2). The data are the result of a statistical survey „Environmental Goods and Services“ conducted by the National Statistical Institute.

•   Statistical Classification of Economic Activities, NACE Rev.2
•   Aggregated nomenclature A21 and A64 based on NACE Rev.2, letter code
•   Classification of Environmental Protection Activities (CEPA)
•   Classification of Resource Management Activities (CReMA)
•   Nomenclature of environmental goods and services by group, domain and type
•   Indicative compendium of environmental goods and services and of economic activities

The statistical survey covers enterprises and kind-of-activity units (KAUs) from all economic activities.

From the "General Government" sector (S13), according to the ESA 2010 (paragraph 2.113) the institutional units classified in the following sub-sectors are covered:

• Central government - S.1311 (includes all units whose accounts are included in the central budget; Higher education institutions; Bulgarian Academy of Sciences; Bulgarian National Television; Bulgarian National Radio; extra-budgetary accounts of central government; hospitals financed by the central government and other institutional units with independent budgets);
• Local government - S.1313 (includes all municipalitie, the hospitals financed by them and extra-budgetary accounts and funds to the municipalities);
• Social security funds- S.1314 (includes the National Insurance Institute and the National Health Insurance Fund).

„Environmental goods and services sector“ means the production activities of a national economy that generate  environmental products (environmental goods and services).

„Environmental products“ (environmental goods and services) are products that have  been produced for the purpose of environmental protection and resource management.

„Environmental protection“ means that a good or service helps preventing, reducing and eliminating pollution and any other degradation of the environment.

„Resource management“ includes the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of the stock of natural resources and therefore the safeguarding of those resources against depletion.

Environmental goods and services fall within the following categories: environmental specific services, environmental sole purpose products (connected products), adapted goods and environmental technologies.

The market output is reported at basic prices (purchaser’s prices).

The gross value added is calculated as a difference between the market output at basic prices and the intermediate consumption.

The employed persons are those related only to environmental activities and are reported in full-time equivalent.

Definitions are used according to the applicable legislation: Regulation (EU) № 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts and Eurostat's Environmental Goods and Services Sector Accounts Handbook.

The statistical unit is an enterprise and kind-of-activity unit. For the sector "General Government" is an institutional unit.

The General Government sector covers institutional units classified in the following subsectors: Central Government and Local Government.

The statistical population is determined by statistical units (enterprises, kind-of-activity units from all economic activities and institutional units from the "Central Government" sector with more than 10 employed persons included in the Statistical Business Register (SBR). Statistical units with less than 10 employees are excluded from the surveys, in order to reduce the respondents’ burden.

The following statistical and administrative sources are used to determine the statistical units for comprehensive survey:

• From SBR are included all enterprises with principal and secondary economic activity according to NACE Rev.2, division 37 – Sewerage, division 38 - Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities; materials recovery, division 39 - Remediation activities and other waste management services;
• From the electronic register for organic agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (MAF), all active enterprises with a valid production certificate for organic crop production, organic livestock production husbandry and bee products;
• From the annual report of enterprises engaged with forestry activities, enterprises whose principal activity is logging and producing firewood, providing silvicultural services for afforestation and replenishment of forest crops, and management of forest territories;
• From the Issued Guarantee Register for the origin of electricity from renewable sources and the Register of active certificates for energy efficiency audits of buildings, maintained by SEDA, all enterprises - producers of energy from renewable sources and enterprises that carry out energy efficiency building audit services;
• From the Electronic Register for Public Procurements of the Public Procurement Agency (PPA), enterprises that are contractors of public procurement related to environmental protection and natural resource management services;
• From the Information System “Business Statistics“, from the database of Report on the production and sales of industrial products (PRODCOM) are included enterprises that have production and sales of environmental goods that fall within the scope of environmental goods and services;

Statistical units for sample survey are determined by selection of simple random samples for the part of non-covered statistical units, due to the large number of enterprises. 

Total for the country.

2014 - 2022 year

Not applicable.

•  Statistical survey „Environmental goods and services“.

Information from other statistical surveys (business statistics, non-financial national accounts, foreign trade, agriculture and forestry, energy statistics) and administrative sources (MAF, SEDA) is also used to define the statistical population, verify the data and make estimates.

Annual.

From the respondents, according to their activities, data are collected on the produced environmental goods, technologies and services by type, groups and domains for environmental protection or resource management activities.

Data validation is part of the activities to ensure the quality of statistical information. Primary data are validated in terms of completeness, correct classification, units of measurement, comparability with previous years, comparability with data from other statistical areas and/or administrative sources, logical control, etc. Statistical data are validated in terms of their comparability, accuracy, reliability, etc., in accordance with the quality criteria according to the Statistics Act.

Data processing is carried out by strictly applying the methodology of the statistical survey and data verification methods.

Data processing includes the actions by which, based on the primary data, brought into an appropriate form, statistical data are calculated, using specialized software products for this purpose.

Not applicable.

Data quality is ensured by applying the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice and the General Framework for Quality Management in the National Statistical System, including the application of the internal methodology "Environmental statistics and accounts", developed by NSI.

Quality assurance activities ensure compliance with the requirements of the Statistics Act in terms of quality criteria: adequacy, accuracy, timeliness, punctuality, accessibility and clarity, comparability and logical connection. Through them, the application of the principles of the Code of European Statistical Practice is ensured: stable methodology; appropriate statistical procedures; moderate burden on respondents; cost effectiveness; applicability; accuracy; timeliness and accuracy of presentation; comparability and consistency; accessibility and clarity.

The quality assessment is carried out at each stage of the statistical production process, in accordance with the Common Framework for Quality Management in the NSS and the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice. It includes statistical processes and statistical information. The requirements of the current methodological documents are applied for quality assessment, including the instructions in the internal methodology „Environmental statistics and accounts”, developed by the NSI.

To ensure high quality of the data, their consistency is checked with the data from the database of the annual activity report of enterprises, Foreign trade, Environmental protection and restoration expenditures and Revenues and expenditure for municipal waste and expenditures for water supply infrastructure, as well as with data reported to Eurostat for main macroeconomic indicators output and value added from Non-financial national accounts - Aggregated national accounts by industry (A*64 based on NACE, Rev.2).

In order to ensure data quality, work is also being done to continuously improve the online-based information system for collecting primary data, providing the opportunity for arithmetic and logical control of input data, and additional analyses and checks are being carried out.

Data on the environmental goods and services sector play an important place in the analyses of green growth and green job creation, policies for environmental protection and efficient use of natural resources, and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The main users of statistical information from the survey are state and municipal structures, scientific institutes, associations, companies and citizens.

The NSI conducts a regular statistical survey „User Satisfaction with the provided statistical information products and services“, which covers all statistical areas. It aims to assess user satisfaction with the statistical information provided by the NSI and to define recommendations for the future development of the statistical system in accordance with user needs.

The data meet the requirements of applicable legislation in terms of scope and observed main characteristics (indicators).

The data are reported within the deadline set by Eurostat.

Data on the market output of environmental goods and services are available for all mandatory aggregations by economic activity groups and environmental and resource management domains.

Data on the variables for mandatory reporting (market output, value added, exports and employment) are highly complete and are reported by type of environmental product/good, economic activity and domain. For market activities, market output is reported by specific environmental services and cleaner and resource-efficient products.

Data accuracy, as one of the criteria for the quality of statistical information, according to the Statistics Act, is guaranteed through quality assurance activities within the statistical production process.

To assess the stochastic accuracy of the study results, coefficients of variation (relative standard errors) and confidence intervals (the range of values ​​that in 95% of cases contain the true value of the variable in the general population) are calculated for the main indicators. - i.e. the estimated total value of the indicators is in the middle of the confidence interval, which is calculated as follows: the estimated total value of the corresponding variable from the sample data -/+ the maximum error (the stochastic error multiplied by the guarantee factor).

• Coefficient of variation - %
• Standard error
• Confidence intervals

The survey may contain non-sampling errors that occur at different stages of the survey and that cannot be completely eliminated.

The main reasons for non-response are, on the one hand, the lack of an up-to-date survey framework at the time of sample formation (e.g., enterprises that have been restructured, closed or have ceased operations in the reporting period) and, on the other hand, refusal to participate in the survey or failure to contact. In order to reduce non-sampling errors, the following is carried out:

• Updating the lists of studied enterprises;
• Developing a clear survey toolkit, continuously supplementing and updating it;
• Conducting regular training seminars for Department "Statistical Surveys“ (DSSs) experts;
• Assistance to respondents and DSSs experts from the survey team at the NSI;
• Data control at the stage of collection, entry and processing.

Not applicable.

Not calculated.

Not applicable.

Measurement errors are errors that occur during data collection and lead to differences between the recorded and actual values ​​of the survey variables.

These errors are related to:

• inaccurate or incomplete records by respondents
• incorrectly recorded data by the Department "Statistical Surveys (DSSs)

Measurement errors are reduced by clear guidelines and instructions for completing the statistical survey form, and checking the data based on clearly defined minimal criteria regarding their completeness, correct classification of environmental goods/services, units of measurement, comparability with previous years, logical and arithmetical controls on input data, etc.

Non-response errors for individual questions (variables) are identified and corrected by clarifying the reason for non-response (refusal, no contact, etc.). The goal of conducting a statistical survey is to collect data from all respondents, i.e. to ensure 100% collection of primary data. In practice, there are cases where not all respondents provide data, which is why the percentage of non-responses is estimated, which should be minimized.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

In order to minimize possible processing errors, in all of the stages of data collection and processing from the survey include a large number of arithmetic and logical controls to verify their completeness, additional analyses and checks for comparability and consistency with other conducted surveys in business statistics and environmental statistics. Data processing is performed with specialized software – Excel, SPSS and/or R.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

In accordance with the principles of the European Statistics Code of Practice and the requirements of the internal rules/integrated management system, statistical processes are regularly monitored and revised as necessary. Revisions are carried out according to standard, established and transparent procedures and are regularly analysed with the aim of improving data sources, statistical processes and products.

The data is revised upon change in regulatory requirements, the applied methodology, or when necessary.

Not applicable.

The data are published 22 months after the reference year.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

The data are published according to the deadlines in the Calendar for the dissemination of the results of the statistical surveys of the NSI.

All publications are submitted for publication in a timely manner, according to the Calendar for the dissemination of the results of the statistical surveys of the NSI.

High degree of comparability between reporting periods.

Data are compiled at the national level. Given the application of common definitions and classifications, the data are comparable with other EU countries.

Not applicable.

The data are comparable over time. Time series are available from 2014.

When the methodology changes, the data in the time series are revised.

2014 - 2022 year

The data are coherent with:

• reported annual data to Eurostat for main macroeconomic indicators: output, value added and employment by Non-financial national accounts - Aggregated national accounts by industry (A*64 based on NACE Rev.2)
• data from the structural business statistics, foreign trade, statistics on the production of industrial products and energy statistics;
• data from the surveys „Expenditures for environmental protection and restoration“ and „Revenues and expenditure for municipal waste and expenditures for water supply infrastructure“.

Classification is applied according to the Statistical classification of economic activities (NACE rev.2), which allows for joint analysis with data from national accounts.

Not applicable.

The data for environmental goods and services sector are coherent with principles, definitions and reported data in National Accounts (ESA - European System of Accounts).

The data have a high degree of internal consistency. The quality assessment procedure checks the consistency of the primary and statistical data by environmental protection classes (CEPA) and natural resource management classes (CReMA) and type of economic activity (NACE Rev.2), at national level, of the aggregated and detailed data in the reporting format under Regulation (EU) № 691/2011 on European environmental economic accounts.

Regular press release on the NSI website.

• Statistical Yearbook
• Statistical reference book
• Electronic publication "Environment"
• Brochure "Bulgaria"

Data on environmental goods and services are available on the NSI website at:

• Section "Environment"
• Information system INFOSTAT

Not applicable.

Anonymised individual data can be provided for scientific and research purposes according to the Rules for provision of anonymised individual data for scientific and research purposes of NSI.

Information service on request, according to the Rules for dissemination of statistical products and services of NSI.

Not applicable.

• Methodological documents and guidelines, including Eurostat's Environmental goods and services sector accounts Handbook.
• Internal methodology "Environmental statistics and accounts".

High.

• European Statistics Code of Practice
• Integrated management system in NSI
• Generic statistical business process model in NSI
• Guidelines for internal audits on the quality of statistical processes and products in the National Statistical Institute
• Internal methodology "Environmental statistics and accounts"

A Quality report is published annually with the publication of the statistical data for Environmental goods and services.

The costs (budget) for statistical surveys are disclosed in the National Statistical Program, published on the NSI website.

Reducing the burden on respondents is a priority in conducting statistical surveys. In this regard, actions are being taken to alleviate the burden, for example: collecting and checking primary data through the online-based information system "Environmental Statistics", containing strict arithmetic and logical controls; improving the instructions for filling in survey forms; providing methodological and technical assistance; continuously exploring the possibilities for using information from administrative and other sources; conducting annual training for respondents and NSI experts, etc.

The time needed to fill in the statistical forms is used as the main measure of the burden on respondents. For this purpose, a section is included in each form that respondents must fill in, regarding the time needed to fill in the form (including the time for data preparation). Based on this information and given the specifics of the study, the workload of the respondents can be determined as relatively high. The overall workload of the responsible experts is determined as high, especially in cases of revisions of data from previous reporting periods.

Regulation (EU) № 223/2009 on European statistics provides for the need to establish common principles and guidelines ensuring the confidentiality of data used for the production of European statistics and access to such confidential data, with due regard to technical developments and the requirements of users in a democratic society.

The Statistics Act (Art. 25, para. 1) stipulates that individual data received and collected through statistical surveys shall constitute a statistical secret and may be used only for statistical purposes.

When processing and summarizing data from the „Environmental Goods and Services“ survey, two types of restrictions apply:

• Threshold rule;
• Dominant (from English dominance) rule or also called (n,k) rule.

The threshold rule ensures that if the value of a given cell from the statistics table is formed by 1 or 2 statistical units that cell remains hidden.

The dominant rule, according to the Statistics Act, is (1:85), that is, the information in a given cell is subject to "suppression" if one statistical unit forms 85 percent or more of the value of the indicator for the entire studied population or subset.

Secondary confidentiality is related to the closing of non-confidential values to prevent third parties from indirectly disclosing data from the totals or subtotals for each economic activity by NACE Rev.2 and CEPA/CReMA classes that are determined to be confidential during data verification for primary confidentiality.

The Eurostat software - CIF version 2 is used to calculate the secondary confidentiality.