Environmental and economic key figures; NAMEA

Table explanation

Description topics

Environment: pollution

Environmental pollution as a result of human activities.

Solid waste production

Waste types are categorised according to the European Regulation on Waste
Statistics. Waste with commercial value (waste products) and without
commercial value (waste residuals) for the producer are taken into
account.

Heavy metals to water

A group of metals with a high atomic weight. Highly toxic metals are
arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead and zinc. The
emissions of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead and
zinc can be converted into heavy-metal equivalents and subsequently be
added up. The conversion to heavy-metal equivalents takes into account the
harmfulness of the substances for the environment (VROM, 1993:
Environmental policy performance indicators, A. Adriaanse). The individual
substances have the following corresponding weights in the equivalent:
Zinc: 1/30
Lead: 1/25
Chromium: 1/25
Arsenic: 1/10
Copper: 1/3
Cadmium: 5
Mercury: 100/3

Nutrients to water

Nutrients that are necessary for the growth of plants and crops (e.g.
phosphorus and nitrogen). A too high concentration of phosphorus and/or
nitrogen is bad for the quality of surface water. The emissions of
phosphorus and nitrogen are converted into nutrient equivalents and
subsequently added up. The conversion takes into account the harmfulness
of the substances for the environment. Phosphorus has a larger weight in
the equivalent than nitrogen (factor 10).

Climate change (greenhouse gases)

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere retain part of the solar heat that
reaches the earth. The increased concentration of greenhouse gases means
more warmth is retained and the temperature of the earth's surface rises.
This is called the "enhanced greenhouse effect". The most important
greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), laughing gas
(N2O), HFCs, PFCs and SF6.
The total impact of the various greenhouse emissions can be expressed in
CO2-equivalents. One CO2-equivalent is equal to the emission of one
kilogram of carbon dioxide (CO2). The emission of one kg of methane equals
21 CO2-equivalents and the emission of one kg of laughing gas equals 310
CO2-equivalents. Fluor (chlorine) hydrocarbon gases each have a high
CO2-equivalent, but as the total emissions of these gases is low, their
contribution to the total greenhouse gas emissions is small.

Acidification

Process which causes the acidification of soil and water as a result of
the emission of polluting substances like NOx, SO2, NH3 and VOS (volatile
organic substances) into the air and their consequent penetration into
water and soil. Acidifying substances are included under the environmental
theme "large-scale air pollution". The contribution of acidifying
substances can be expressed in acidification equivalents. One
acidification equivalent is equal to one mole H+. The emission of one kg
NOx is equal to 0.0217 acidification equivalents, the emission of one 1 kg
SO2 is equal to 0.0313 acidification equivalents, and the emission of one
1 kg NH3 is equal to 0.0588 acidification equivalents.

Ozone layer depletion

Depletion of the ozone layer as a result of emissions of CFCs and halones
to air, converted to CFC12 equivalents. The conversion factors are based
on the extent to which the different CFCs and halones affect the ozone
layer.

Fine dust

Includes only the emission of PM10. PM10 are particles smaller than 10
micrometres, that can penetrate deep into the lungs and are thus harmful
to humans.

Environment financial

Expenditures and revenues related to care for the environment.

Revenues environmental fees and -taxes

Total revenues from environmental levies and environmental taxes.
Environmental levies are imposed by the government to finance specific
environmental measures. Environmental taxes are taxes intended to reduce
human activities that harm the environment. The revenues from
environmental taxes go into the general government revenue and are not
used to finance specific environmental policies. Examples of environmental
taxes are excise on motor fuels, road tax, the tax on cars and motorcycles
and energy tax.
Not included are revenues from taxes of non-residents in the Netherlands
and Dutch residents abroad.

Macroeconomics

Economy dealing with groups of commodities and production output.

Output (basic prices)

Output (basic prices) covers the value of all goods produced for sale,
including unsold goods, and all receipts for services rendered. Output
furthermore covers the market equivalent of goods and services produced
for own use, such as own account capital formation, services of
owner-occupied dwellings and agricultural products produced by farmers for
own consumption.
The output of such goods is estimated by valuing the quantities produced
against the price that the producer would have received if these goods had
been sold. Output is valued at basic prices, defined as the price received
by the producer excluding trade and transport margins and the balance of
taxes and subsidies on products. This is the price the producer is
ultimately left with.

Value added (gross, basic prices)

Value added at basic prices is equal to the difference between production
(basic prices) and intermediate consumption.

Fixed capital formation (gross)

Expenses on produced material and immaterial assets that can be used in
the production proces for a period longer than one year, e.g. buildings,
houses, machines, transportation and such.
Fixed capital formation includes also:
- the underhand work in construction, that is considered the client's
fixed capital formation. This includes houses, government buildings, civil
engineering works and such;
- military structures that are used in similar way as by civil producers,
like airports and hospitals;
- improvements on used fixed assets, that are not the usual maintenance
and repair works;
- the costs made, buying new or used fixed assets, such as conveyancing
fees and costs of real estate agents, architects, notaries and appraisers.
At the total economy-level (and the departments) the investments are
corrected on buying and selling used fixed assets.

Labour input of employed persons

The input of labour that is deployedin a certain period. The labour input
can be expressed as jobs, years of employment and hours of employment.
Employed persons are all individuals working at a company that is settled
in The Netherlands or at a private household in The Netherlands.
Employed persons are considered all individuals performing paid labour,
even if it is for just one or a few hour a week, even if they:
- perform labour that is legal, but which from the payment is withdrawn
from registration by the treasury and social security authorities ('black
labour');
- do not perform any labour temporary, but still get payment (e.g. in case
of illness or hold-ups due to frost;
- are on holiday temporary, without payment.
Employed persons can becategorised in employees and freelancers.
Employees are individuals performing labour for a certain period, in
return of payment or salary, in money or in kind.
Freelancers are individuals receiving income by performing labour at their
own expenses and risk, for the company or profession they practise
independently. Participating members of the family are also considered
freelancers, unless they start an employment contract.