Emissions from Norwegian economic activity

Air emissions

The economic and environmental accounts statistics give an overview of a number of different emissions components:

Greenhouse gases

Carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen dioxide (N2O), methane (CH4), PFCs (perfluorocarbons), HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), and SF6. Total emissions of greenhouse gases are calculated by adding up emissions for each component given in CO2-equivalents. For more information, see Emissions to air.

Acidifying gases

Nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ammonia (NH3). Total emissions of gases contributing to acidification, are given by the sum of each emission type given in potential acid equivalents (PAE). For more information, see Emissions to air.

Ozone precursors

Nitrogen oxides (NOX), NMVOC (non-methane volatile organic carbons), carbon dioxide (CO), and methane (CH4). Total emissions of ozone precursors are found by calculating the Tropospheric Ozone Forming Potentials (TOPF) in NMVOC equivalents for each component before adding the emissions together. For more information, see Emissions to air.

Heavy metals

Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and mercury (Hg).

Other components

Polycyclic organic hydrocarbons (PAH-4), Particles (dust) (PM10 and PM2,5), and dioxin.

National accounts

The national accounts statistics are designed to provide a consistent and comprehensive survey of the national economy. The national accounts contain national aggregates, and give detailed descriptions of transactions between different sectors of the economy, including the rest of the world.

See the National Accounts for further information.

Emission intensity

The emission intensity is measured as emissions units per NOK value added or output, and is calculated in this set of statistics by dividing the emissions from the specific industry by the value added or output from that same industry.

An industry having a high emission intensity, pollutes a lot compared to the value added or output of that industry. An improvement in the emission intensity, therefore, means lower values and/or a declining graph.

Politically, the aim of the environmental policy in Norway, is that even if the economy continues to grow, the pollution should be reduced, either in absolute or relative values. In other words, one seeks for a development where the economic development and environmental development is disconnected.

Based on NACE rev. 1.1 classification, and published according to the groups used in the national accounts.

Name: Emissions from Norwegian economic activity
Topic: Nature and the environment

Division for National Accounts

Values are published for the country as a whole.

Frequency: Annual

The whole time series for air emissions is recalculated annually when new information makes this relevant.

Eurostat (European Union's statistical office).

The goal of the environment and economic accounts is to give a consistent and comprehensive picture of the environmental consequences due to the economic activity of units that are resident in Norway. A unit is resident in a country when the centre of economic interest belongs within the country's economic territory.

The NOREEA (Norwegian Economic and Environment Accounts) project was the basis for the development of these statistics, and was financed by the EU Commission and the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment. The statistics was published for the first time in 2002.

The data are used for analyses that combine emissions and economic information. Industry sector profiles, changes over time, decoupling of emissions from economic activity and emissions intensities can all be obtained from these time series. Among the users of the statistics are Eurostat, UNFCCC and the Ministry of the Environment.

Obtaining a harmonized data set that includes both the national accounts and the air emissions accounts is the major focus of these linked accounts. The air emissions accounts and reporting is most commonly according to a geographic or territorial definition of Norway whereas the national accounts uses an economic activity definition of Norway. The air emissions data need to be adjusted to correspond to the economic definition. In Norway, the difference between these two definitions is primarily due to ocean transport and international air transport. The emissions from international shipping and international air transport are not usually included in the territorial defined air emissions accounts but they are included here so that there is better correspondence with the National Accounts' economic definition of Norway (i.e. the economic activity of units that are resident in Norway). There are other small differences but they are not as important as ocean transport and international air transport.

In the economic and environmental accounts, the statistics from the air emissions accounts are combined with statistics from the national accounts. The categories are harmonised so that data can be easily combined. For this purpose, we make use of an economic definition of Norway, contrary to the geographic definition that is used in the official statistics on air emissions.

For more information, see the National Accounts and Emissions to air.

The data sources that are used in the environmental and economic accounts are already published figures at Statistics Norway for air emissions and national accounts.

For more information, see the National Accounts and Emissions to air.

As part of the work with the economic and environmental accounts, controls are undertaken to ensure that the data are consistent with already published figures for air emissions and the national accounts. There is no additional control of primary data.

The data sources that are used in the environmental and economic accounts are already published figures at Statistics Norway for air emissions and national accounts. The uncertainty follows from these statistics.

For more information, see the National Accounts and Emissions to air.

The environmental and economic accounts follows the revisions in the National Accounts and Emissions to air.