Survey on Environmental Protection and Resource Management Activities in the Public Sector
Survey on Environmental Protection and Resource Management Activities in the Public Sector 1. Survey profile The Survey on Environmental Protection and Resource Management Activities in the Public Sector was carried out during the period July 2019 – March 2020 and covered the years 2017 and 2018. The first such survey was conducted in 2006, with 2004 as reference year, and was party financed by the European Commission. As from the reference year 2010, the survey was included in the annual work plan of the Statistical Service and is carried out on a regular basis. The survey is harmonised with the definitions, concepts and methodology that were set by the Statistical Service of the European Union (Eurostat) and is conducted in accordance with the joint Eurostat/OECD questionnaire. 2. Purpose The survey aims at collecting and presenting data regarding the expenditures and revenues that are undertaken by the broad public sector towards the protection of the environment. 3. Coverage The survey covers the various ministries, departments, services and organisations of the broad public sector, including the non-profit semi-government organisations, on the basis of the definition of the “general government”, as delineated for national accounts purposes. 4. Data collection The data collection was performed using a questionnaire which was filled in and returned by e-mail or post to the Statistical Service. Wherever required, an authorised employee of the Statistical Service provided guidance to the various ministries, departments, services and organisations through telephone communications or/and onsite visits. The various ministries, departments, services and organisations were requested to provide information regarding every expenditure or revenue undertaken during 2017 and 2018 that aimed at the protection of the environment. The required information included the number of employees who were engaged in environmental protection activities, their wages and salaries, the current and investment expenditure that was realised for environmental protection purposes, as well as subsidies and transfers given to or received from third parties. The data collection also included information regarding the revenues that stemmed from such activities. Each one of the pre-mentioned information was classified by environmental domain: air and climate, wastewater, waste, biodiversity, soil, groundwater and surface water, noise and other. 5. Definitions used Environmental protection: is defined as any action or activity whose main purpose is the collection, treatment, reduction, prevention or elimination of pollution and pollutants or any other degradation of the environment. All actions and activities whereby the primary function is environmental protection are included, regardless of whether they are undertaken in response to environmental legislation. However, actions and activities that are beneficial to the environment but whose main purpose is not environmental protection and have been taken regardless of environmental protection considerations are excluded. Examples of such activities are: treatment of waste and wastewater, elimination or reduction of emissions of air pollutants, protection of soils and ground water, abatement or reduction of noise and vibration, protection of natural resources and biodiversity, as well as monitoring of the quality of the environment and the control of waste generation etc. Environmental protection expenditure: is the sum of capital investments and current expenditures for the undertaking of environmental protection activities. Investments on technologies for environmental protection: investments on technologies which aim at the prevention, reduction and treatment of pollution and the management of emissions (air, wastewater, solid waste, noise, etc) into the environment. Appendages, upkeep and improvements that increase the lifetime or the capacity of existing facilities are also included. Internal current expenditures: concern all current expenditures on environmental protection except purchases of environmental protection services from external bodies. It includes the consumption of energy and materials in the execution of environmental protection activities, the purchase of environmentally friendly goods, the use of the enterprise’s own staff for environmental protection purposes, the operation of environmental protection equipment (e.g. labour costs, maintenance of equipment), general administration (e.g. setting up and maintaining environmental information systems), etc. Expenditures for purchases of services: refer to all fees, charges and similar payments to external bodies (outside the reporting unit), in exchange for environmental protection services. They include payments for the collection and treatment of solid waste and wastewater, payments to environmental consultants (e.g. related to education of staff, operation and maintenance of environmental protection equipment and facilities), etc. ministry, department, service, organisation either to other sectors of the economy or to another body in the public sector for environmental protection purposes, and (b) the amounts received as financing from the European Union and/or other bodies. Such amounts include subsidies towards the promotion of the usage of renewable energy sources, cleaning campaigns and campaigns for raising awareness on environmental issues, fees for the participation in international organisations, etc. Income from environmental protection activities: includes income from selling environmental services, receipts from by-products (like income from the reuse of materials resulting from environmental protection activities, the sale of such materials to other organisations or enterprises etc.) and other income not included in any of the categories above and which is resulting from PAC activities. Last updated: 16/07/2020