5. Implementation

This chapter provides guidance to the practical implementation of the GreenTransition-module specific to the business tendency surveys of Statistics Netherlands.

5.1 Statistical presentation

Data description

The GreenTransition-module of the BTS describes managers’ assessments, expectations, plans and constraints about the green transition of their enterprise. The module is designed to enable analysis of the green transition of enterprises in relation to fluctuations in the business cycle.

The collected information allows measuring the green transition of the manufacturing industry, retail trade and services sectors with 5 or more persons employed in the Netherlands.

Classification system

For a breakdown by business activity, the Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE), Rev. 2 is used. A regional breakdown is based on the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS). 

Coverage – sector

The following business activities are included in the core target population:
Industry: NACE Rev.2 from 10 to 33.
Retail trade: NACE Rev.2 45 and 47.
Services: NACE Rev.2 from 49 to 96 (excluding: 64-66 and 84-88).

Statistical concepts and definitions

The statistical concepts are defined in The Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys User Guide.

Statistical unit

The local unit is an enterprise or part thereof (e.g. a workshop, factory, warehouse, office, mine or depot) situated in a geographically identified place.

Statistical population

All enterprises of a given sector with 5 or more persons employed are included in the statistical population. The general business register (ABR) of Statistics Netherlands is a coordinated monthly frame of business units for most surveys. The ABR contains information about the total population of enterprise groups and corresponding enterprises and establishments. The register is based on the new trade register (NHR) of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK).

Reference area

The reference area is The Netherlands. Data for the Caribbean Netherlands are not included.

Coverage – time

2024-present.

Base period

Not applicable.

5.2 Unit of measure

Ratios are expressed in percentages.

5.3 Reference period

Depending on their exact formulation, the survey questions have the following reference 
periods: 
– The release month of the survey results; 
– The time period preceding the release month;
– The time period following the release month.

5.4 Institutional mandate

Institutional Mandate – legal acts and other agreements

• Statistics Netherlands Act (in Dutch: Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek ), in particular articles 3, 4, 33.3, 33.4. 
• CBS Data Acquisition Decree (in Dutch: Besluit gegevensverwerving CBS ) articles 2 and 3.l.
• EU BCS programme: European Commission decision C(97) 2241 of 15 July 1997. Regular updates on the implementation of the Programme in terms of use, methodology and coverage were presented in Commission communications COM(2000) 770 of 29 November 2000, COM(2006) 379 of 12 July 2006, SEC(2012) 227 of 4 April 2012 and C(2016) 6634 of 20 October 2016. 
  – Framework partnership agreement ECFIN - NL-CBS.

Institutional Mandate – data sharing

The mission of Statistics Netherlands is to compile official statistics and to publish all non-confidential and sufficiently reliable results. Statistics Netherlands makes these results accessible to the public through various channels. Micro-data can be made available for statistical research within a secure CBS environment to Dutch universities, scientific organisations, planning agencies and statistical authorities within the EU. This service is provided under strict conditions. This is specified in law: Statistics Netherlands Act (in Dutch: Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek), sections 3.1, 37 and 41 in particular. 

5.5 Confidentiality

Policy

Statistics Netherlands guarantees the privacy of respondents (persons, enterprises and other), the confidential nature of the information provided and the sole use for statistical purposes. This is specified in law: Statistics Netherlands Act (in Dutch: Wet op het Centraal bureau voor de statistiek), and section 37 in particular. 

Data treatment

Confidential data is restricted from publication.

5.6 Release policy

Release calendar

No official calendar is available for the data release. However, figures are generally published no later than the last working day of the reference month. See also 5.12 timeliness and punctuality.

Release policy – user access

In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice, Statistics Netherlands disseminates statistics on its website respecting professional independence, in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably. All users have access to the online datasets. Data derived from specific requests for data are also made available to the general public.

5.7 Frequency of dissemination

Depending on the survey question, dissemination is at monthly, quarterly, biannual or annual frequency.

5.8 Accessibility and clarity

Dissemination

Figures are made available to users through various channels:

• Figures are disseminated in full detail in custom tables (CSV or Excel) in the additional-research  section of the Statistics Netherlands website;
• Figures are not yet planned to be published in the online database of Statistics Netherlands;
• News releases are published ad-hoc on the website  of Statistics Netherlands. Upcoming news releases are announced on the publication planning  of Statistics Netherlands;
• Micro-data can be made available to Dutch universities, scientific organisations, planning agencies and statistical authorities within the EU under strict conditions for statistical research within a secure CBS environment .

Methodology documentation

The reference methodology for the questions on the green transition is described in this study. 

This study is published in the methodology-papers  section of the Statistics Netherlands website.

Quality documentation

Quality declaration.

5.9 Quality management

Quality assurance

Statistics Netherlands follows the Code of Practice for European Statistics. More information on quality assurance can be found here.

Quality management - assessment

The figures are checked for completeness, internal consistency and plausibility. If possible, results are systematically compared with the results of comparable surveys in neighbouring countries. The production process complies with the ISO-9001 guideline.

5.10 Relevance

The questions provide essential information for policy making, economic surveillance, short-term forecasting and economic research on the green transition. The survey data are particularly useful for monitoring developments by business activity, business size and in relation to business cycle developments.

5.11 Accuracy and reliability

Accuracy

Confidence intervals can be calculated and published. 

Non-sampling error

Non-sampling errors specific to the GreenTransition-module could potentially arise from response errors and respondents’ inability and unwillingness to answer. Explanations of specific terms are provided to minimize varied interpretations of questions and response alternatives. Respondents’ inability and unwillingness to answer is dealt with in various ways. As the number of questions is limited, filter questions cannot always be used to overcome situations where respondents are not informed about the topic of interest. Instead, the response alternative “Not applicable” or “Don’t know” is available to respondents. An open text field is available, where applicable, for respondents to articulate their response other than the available response alternatives. Response alternatives ‘none’, and ‘this year we will not make such investments’ exclude other response alternatives. The GreenTransition-module is also placed late in the sequence of questions.

5.12 Timeliness and punctuality

Timeliness

Fieldwork is part of the regular business tendency surveys of Statistics Netherlands. The fieldwork for the surveys is generally performed in the first three weeks of each month. The survey results are generally produced five working days before the end of the reference month.

Figures are published along with figures to the EU BCS programme publication schedule  at the end of the reference month.

Punctuality

Figures are in general delivered at the target date, no later than the last working day of the reference month.

5.13 Coherence and comparability

Comparability

The method followed aims to guarantee coherence and comparability of the results.

In order to ensure comparability Statistic Netherlands applies the concepts and methodology recommended by The Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys. The GreenTransition-module is part of the same production system for all of the business tendency surveys administered by Statistics Netherlands.

Coherence

If possible, results are systematically compared with the results of other statistics.

5.14 Response burden

To limit the response burden, Statistics Netherlands decided on a maximum of 3 additional questions per survey round period. Each question has a maximum of 7 to 8 response alternatives. Respondents can choose only one or two response alternatives. To distribute the response burden, data are collected at various survey rounds throughout the year.

5.15 Data revision

Revision policy

Data provided in the frame of each survey round are not subject to adjustment or revisions. The provided data are final.

Revision practice

The figures are revised when inconsistencies are found. Upon release, data are final.

5.16 Statistical processing

Source data

Statistics Netherlands carries out a stratified sample survey to collect the data. The stratified sampling method is probability proportional to size (PPS). The stratification variable is NACE.

Frequency of data collection

Data on change in investment, change in procurement and constraints about the green transition are collected half-yearly in June and December. These months were chosen for a number of reasons: 

• To create a half-yearly frequency;
• To avoid interference with the data collection of the EU BCS Investment questions. 
• To distribute the response burden (see 5.14). 
• Due to lower response rates in August (school holidays in the summer) the combination February-August is less favourable.

Data on the type of investment planned and climate neutrality of business operations are collected annually in February to distribute the response burden.

Data on production limitations are already collected on a quarterly basis. 

Data collection

Data are collected via online surveys.

Data validation

Missing values are imputed with the average value of similar units (2-digit NACE reference group) and if possible with the respondent’s response on T-1 (see table 5.16.1)

For the EU BCS publication, responses on the response alternative “weather conditions” are combined with the response alternative “other factors”.

Data compilation

Multiple responses are not rescaled to 100 percent.

The collected data are extrapolated with weighting schemes in order to obtain the population totals. Statistics Netherlands compiles the tabulated outputs according to calculation rules and algorithms as prescribed in The Joint Harmonised EU Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys User Guide. Derived data are then disseminated in custom tables.

Data adjustment

Figures are not seasonally adjusted because they are not deemed to be sensitive to seasonal influences.