What are environmental accounts?
Environmental-Economic Accounts (EEA) are a statistical system that describes the interactions between the economy, society, and the environment. They link environmental data, such as the consumption of energy, raw materials, water, and land, with economic indicators, for example gross domestic product (GDP) or gross value added (GVA). This makes it possible to identify the environmental impacts associated with economic activities and the consumption of private households.
Natural resources and ecosystems constitute an essential foundation for the economy and society. Raw materials, energy, water, and land are used for production and consumption. At the same time, ecosystems provide important services, such as the supply of resources, carbon storage, water regulation, and the absorption of emissions and pollutants.
Environmental-Economic Accounts (EEA) provide a consistent data basis for analysing economic developments together with their environmental impacts. They complement the National Accounts (NA) with an environmental perspective, thereby enabling an integrated assessment of the environment and the economy. As so-called satellite accounts, they follow the same fundamental concepts and definitions as the National Accounts.
Environmental and Economic Interactions
Environmental-Economic Accounts (EEA) can help answer the following questions:
- How much resource consumption is associated with an economy?
- What environmental impacts arise from production and consumption?
- How do energy use, material consumption, and emissions change over time?
- What expenditures are made for environmental protection?
- What services do ecosystems provide to society and the economy?
- How do economic activities influence the condition of the environment?
International and European Frameworks
The most important methodological foundation for Environmental-Economic Accounts (EEA) is the international framework known as the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), which was developed under the leadership of the United Nations. It provides globally harmonised concepts and methods for the compilation of comparable environmental and economic data.
In addition, the SEEA Ecosystem Accounting framework enables the systematic measurement of ecosystems, their condition, and the ecosystem services they provide. This makes it possible to present more comprehensively the contributions of nature to societal well-being and economic development.
At the European level, Environmental-Economic Accounts are compiled on the basis of the Regulation on European environmental economic accounts. In addition to traditional areas such as air emissions, material flows, environmental taxes, and environmental protection expenditure, increasing attention is being given to topics such as ecosystems, forests, and environmentally related subsidies.
Relevance for Policy and Society
Environmental-Economic Accounts (EEA) provide an important data foundation for policymaking and strategic planning. They support the assessment of measures in areas such as climate action, resource efficiency, the circular economy, biodiversity, and sustainable development.
By linking environmental and economic data, Environmental-Economic Accounts provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between society, the economy, and the environment. In doing so, they make an important contribution to evidence-based decision-making for sustainable development.