ASSESSMENT OF DATA (a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: Either (i) quantities of pollutants
discharged from all energy-related activities, particularly from coal mining and oil
extraction, or (ii) monthly or annual average site-specific concentrations of each of the
pollutants.
(b) National and International Data Availability and Sources: In Europe,
information on discharges from energy industries can be found in the European
Pollutant Emission Register (EPER), which was established by the European
Commission as an inventory of emissions from those industries covered by Council
Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (which
includes large energy producers). Globally, however, the main challenge concerning
data is to increase the frequency with which the data are collected, processed and
updated at the national level. In a number of countries, the current practice still is to
publish emission inventories at five-year intervals. Additional efforts are needed to
improve the availability, completeness and comparability of data for air pollutant
emissions.
(c) Data References: Emissions data are available from the European Pollutant
Emissions Register (http://www.eper.cec.eu.int). The European Environment Agency
(EEA) provides information on water data flows and assessments
(http://themes.eea.eu.int/Specific_media/water). The WHO maintains a Web site with
information on water-law standards (http://www.who.int/waterlaw/).
REFERENCES • EIPPCB, 2003. Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for Large Combustion Plant, March 2003 draft. Seville, Spain: European Integrated
Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau.
• EEA, 2003. Europe’s Water: An Indicator-Based Assessment. Topic report no.
1/2003. Copenhagen, Denmark: European Environment Agency.
• OECD, 1989. Energy and the Environment: Policy Overview. Paris, France:
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/
International Energy Agency (IEA).
• UNEP, 1995. Biological Indicators and Their Use in the Measurement of the Condition of the Marine Environment. Report no. 55. Nairobi, Kenya: United
Nations Environment Programme.
