Environmental Data Centre on Natural Resources and Products (EDCNRP)

From Statistics Explained

The Environmental Data Centre on Natural Resources and on Products, abbreviated as EDCNRP, is a web-based system providing access to a broad range of information related to the environmental impacts associated with natural resource use and products in the European Union (EU). It serves as a gateway to information related to the environmental thematic areas of sustainable use of natural resources and products.

The overall policy objective in these thematic area is to reduce environmental impacts associated with natural resource use and products in Europe.

The main information user is the European Commission - DG Environment.

The EDCNRP has three main functions:

• web-based portal to information:

• single access point for DG Environment (this web-based system)
• access to information in its broadest sense

• theme coordination:

• among European institution (Go4) who are 'holders' of relevant information
• => 'shared' content management

• operating an Information hub

• helpdesk for DG Environment's ad hoc questions

The potential information to which access is to be provided comprises the following types:

• metadata (contextual information): refers to "non-data" and hence more contextual information related to the respective environmental subject matter such as e.g. foundations, theories, methods and methodologies, definitions, policy context, glossary etc;

• data: refers to the raw data on the most detailed disaggregation level: access will be provided to many external bodies hosting data related to resource use and products; some Eurostat domains are also concerned (PRODCOM, COMEXT, National Accounts, Energy, Agriculture etc.);

• indicators: refers to aggregated data based on raw data. Indicators may be compiled by the Environmental Data Centre on Natural Resources and on Products itself; or links to external websites will be given;

• assessments: refers to analyses in the area of the respective environmental theme (underpinned by meta-information, data and indicators), such as integrated assessment reports, research studies, web-based publications etc.;

• knowledge: refers to "tailor-made" information pieces giving specific answers to questions by policy makers and to FAQs; information of this type is made available through a kind of helpdesk (see information hub).

Some of this information is produced, maintained and disseminated by above mentioned Go4 institutions, some will be generated through joint efforts of the Go4 institutions, some will be prepared by consultants to Eurostat. However, the majority of the potential information is created and published by organisations and bodies beyond the Go4. Hence, this web-based information system provides numerous links to external websites.

Co-ordinating the "Group of Four"

Eurostat (Unit E3) as the leader of the Environmental Data Centre on Natural Resources and Products is expected to coordinate the European institutions which host information related to the above mentioned policy areas in order to create a "single entry point" for DG ENV to gather information for their policy making.

The following institutions are 'holders' of information related to the thematic area of sustainable use of resources and products (so-called "Group of Four", Go4):

1. Eurostat (leading institution) Units E2 Environmental accounts and E3 Environmental Statistics;

2. European Environment Agency (EEA) and its Environmental Topic Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ETC/SCP);

3. European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC):

• Institute for Environment and Sustainability (JRC-IES) with its European Platform on LCA;
• Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (JRC-IPTS);

4. DG Environment: mainly Directorate G with its units G.1 "Environment and Industry" and G.2 "Sustainable Production and Consumption".

Further information

• Eurostat - Environmental Data Centres on Natural Resources and Products