**An Economy-Environment Integrate Statistic System**

Giani Gradinaru *Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies Romania* 

#### **1. Introduction**

Sustainable Development – 230 Energy, Engineering and Technologies – Manufacturing and Environment

UNESCO. (2010). *Informe Mundial de la UNESCO*. Invertir en la diversidad cultural y en el

http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21\_spanish/res\_agenda21\_40.shtml

diálogo intercultural. París, Francia.

The economy-environment inter-conditioning is so visible that any attempt to fundament this affirmation is useless. The environment furnishes the resources, which represent the nucleus of the supply economic activity. The supply is made for two main reasons: goods and services production and consumption. Both production and consumption create wastes, and these wastes are evacuated in the environment (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. The economy-environment inter-conditioning

The concept of lasting development doesn't leave any space for a separate discussion on environment economy. The Rio Conference, the 21 Agenda, the Johannesburg summit, scientists' workshops has already established the conceptual basis for creating an environment-economy integrated informational system. No country can be left out because one cannot set boundaries on the environment.

Identifying the information categories relevant for decisions grounding can start the achievement of an informational system concerning lasting development, even before the theoretical and methodological development is fully settled. Thus it can be considered determinant five information categories:

 Highlighting the environment status based on separate environment factors (water, air, soil, biological diversity);

An Economy-Environment Integrate Statistic System 233

 The necessity to develop horizontal relations between the economic and environmental instruments for sector or regional level, respectively including the environment

 The necessity to represent the environment indicators in time dimension, respectively building chronological series for most part of the indicators expressing the economic

> **AN INTEGRATED STATISTIC SYSTEM FOR THE AN INTEGRATED STATISTIC SYSTEM FOR THE MACROECONOMIC LEVEL MACROECONOMIC LEVEL**

> **AN INTEGRATED STATISTIC SYSTEM FOR THE AN INTEGRATED STATISTIC SYSTEM FOR THE MICROECONOMIC LEVEL MICROECONOMIC LEVEL**

The statistic base for the economy-environment integrated statistic analysis is complex and perfectible, and this improvement can be achieved gradually. A comprehensive description of the environment requires the integration of a large number of data sources in order to reach a more complete image of the pressure exerted on the environment, of its quality state and of the efforts made to protect the environment. In our country, the present state of these data sources is situated at very low quality level, representing the main obstacle in developing the environment statistic system. The primary data for building the environment statistic-economical analysis system can be improved by developing statistic registers, national accounting revision, doing new statistic researches and improving the existing

Developing the system of environment statistic subjects and variables must be preceded by

 The universal statistic language, the coherence of statistic description being given by the rigorous classification of the statistic subjects, a classification which allows comparison between the information referring to different time periods or different geographical areas (in order to be efficient a statistic language for the economy-environment relation must be systematically developed, so different types of standards to become compatible

 Developing work programs for data gathering and dissemination for subjects such as: emissions, water prevailing and use, waste flow, chemical use, environment protection expenses, available sector statistics for description of environment impact activities etc.;

**ENVIRONMENT INDICATORS**

**ENVIRONMENT STATISTICS**

indicators in an economic decisional process;

**ADJUSTED MACROECONOMIC AGGREGATES**

**BRANCH STATISTICS**

Fig. 2. The economy-environment integration for informational

and establish relations between different information);

**2. Environment statistic subjects and variables** 

ones.

a clarification of aspect concerning:

and environmental performances.


The first four information categories are so strongly connected to the evaluation problems, that the only problems that may appear are connected to the data collecting methods and the efforts of collecting and processing. On what concerns standards value, there are understandings which count more or less on scientific appreciation, which sustains a higher level of information quality, also generated by the fact that these are decision elements in solving environment problems. An incomplete and uncertain information may influence the consequences of economic activities such as subsequent development.

Achieving the lasting development objectives on a large scale presumes that economic policies are projected according to environment considerations and to the economic functions of the natural resources. For this, the deciding persons need info concerning economic activities and environment status expressed in natural and monetary units. Such information must be built in a manner, which allows an emphasis of the main problem of the lasting development and the inner-generation equity, keeping the environment health for future generations.

The efficiency of the economic reform policies can be evaluated by comparing the traditional synthetic indicators with the ones resulted from integrating the environment data. A simple comparison of these indicators can supply an adequate understanding for introducing the environment parameters in an economic system, reason for that is necessary the use of economic-mathematical modeling.

Because economic policies must be projected in the light of their impact on the environment, the environment policies must take into consideration the economic implications. This integration became nowadays a basic problem in conceiving environment policies, for which the integrated economy-environment indicators can facilitate a coherent wording.

The standard economic indicators, which describe mainly the financial flows in an economy, supply incomplete information concerning the implications of economic activities on the environment. The economic instruments have different possibilities of comparing their results in time and space, but such methods are not developed for environment. The environment informational instruments are usually based on physical parameters, while the economic informational instruments use both physical and value data. As a result, there are significant deficiencies for the quality level of the indicators which must explain the economy-environment inter-dependence, a fact which imposes developing integrated indicators to express the direct connection between the economic activities and environment, in the direction of lasting development request (Fig. 2). In this direction we can define the following priorities:

 The necessity to develop vertical connections between the economic instruments for macro and microeconomic level, respectively between the individual environment indicators (microeconomic level) and the synthesis indicators (macroeconomic level);

Sustainable Development – 232 Energy, Engineering and Technologies – Manufacturing and Environment

Emphasizing the environment pressures based on sectors considered pressure sources;

Evaluating the size of environment advantages and damages according to the

The first four information categories are so strongly connected to the evaluation problems, that the only problems that may appear are connected to the data collecting methods and the efforts of collecting and processing. On what concerns standards value, there are understandings which count more or less on scientific appreciation, which sustains a higher level of information quality, also generated by the fact that these are decision elements in solving environment problems. An incomplete and uncertain information may influence the

Achieving the lasting development objectives on a large scale presumes that economic policies are projected according to environment considerations and to the economic functions of the natural resources. For this, the deciding persons need info concerning economic activities and environment status expressed in natural and monetary units. Such information must be built in a manner, which allows an emphasis of the main problem of the lasting development and the inner-generation equity, keeping the environment health

The efficiency of the economic reform policies can be evaluated by comparing the traditional synthetic indicators with the ones resulted from integrating the environment data. A simple comparison of these indicators can supply an adequate understanding for introducing the environment parameters in an economic system, reason for that is necessary the use of

Because economic policies must be projected in the light of their impact on the environment, the environment policies must take into consideration the economic implications. This integration became nowadays a basic problem in conceiving environment policies, for which the integrated economy-environment indicators can facilitate a coherent wording.

The standard economic indicators, which describe mainly the financial flows in an economy, supply incomplete information concerning the implications of economic activities on the environment. The economic instruments have different possibilities of comparing their results in time and space, but such methods are not developed for environment. The environment informational instruments are usually based on physical parameters, while the economic informational instruments use both physical and value data. As a result, there are significant deficiencies for the quality level of the indicators which must explain the economy-environment inter-dependence, a fact which imposes developing integrated indicators to express the direct connection between the economic activities and environment, in the direction of lasting development request (Fig. 2). In this direction we

 The necessity to develop vertical connections between the economic instruments for macro and microeconomic level, respectively between the individual environment indicators (microeconomic level) and the synthesis indicators (macroeconomic level);

Estimating the expenses made to avoid pressures;

Highlighting the standards, which can regulate the pressure.

consequences of economic activities such as subsequent development.

environment pressures;

for future generations.

economic-mathematical modeling.

can define the following priorities:


Fig. 2. The economy-environment integration for informational

### **2. Environment statistic subjects and variables**

The statistic base for the economy-environment integrated statistic analysis is complex and perfectible, and this improvement can be achieved gradually. A comprehensive description of the environment requires the integration of a large number of data sources in order to reach a more complete image of the pressure exerted on the environment, of its quality state and of the efforts made to protect the environment. In our country, the present state of these data sources is situated at very low quality level, representing the main obstacle in developing the environment statistic system. The primary data for building the environment statistic-economical analysis system can be improved by developing statistic registers, national accounting revision, doing new statistic researches and improving the existing ones.

Developing the system of environment statistic subjects and variables must be preceded by a clarification of aspect concerning:


An Economy-Environment Integrate Statistic System 235

**Agriculture** may have environmental incidence by raising the production determined by a growth in cultivated surface or animal effective, either by a growth in agricultural efficiency

**Deforestation**

**The decrease of unproductive land**

**Irrigation in dry areas**

**Intensive grazing**

The statistic subjects which reflect the connection between agriculture and environment refer to a growth of agricultural production (either by extensive agriculture, or intensive)

The animal effective and their density by animal species

The agriculture energy consumption by types of energy

Agricultural practices based on types of works

Table 1. The statistic variables for highlighting the agriculture-environment relation

The inputs volume (physical and value)

The volume destined for self-consumer

Cultivated surfaces and the production achieved grouped by types of

The applied quantity of fertilizers and the fertilized surfaces by types of

The fodder quantities consumed by animals grouped by type of fodder

The sales volume based on different types of production (physical and

The exported volume by different types of products (physical and value)

The gross capital formation on types of agricultural exploitation

and emphasizing the place of agriculture in the market economy (table 1).

fertilizer substances used

**THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF AGRICULTURE**

(Fig. 4.).

**EXTENSIVE** - the growth of cultivated surface - the growth of animal livestock

**INTENSIVE** - the growth of agricultural efficiency

Fig. 4. The ecological impact of agriculture

**Agriculture Statistic variables** 

culture

value)

Extensive agriculture

Intensive agriculture

The place of agriculture in the market economy


When developing the set of environment statistic variables, the present international achievements indicate a preference for combing the environment elements based approach with the one referring to the pressure-status-response and few components from the resource management approach. In Romania, the National Statistic Institute maintains the same conception, a reason for which we would restore a possible draft for developing the environment statistic system of subjects and variables, a draft achieved by combining the three types of approaches mentioned earlier (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. A draft for developing the environment statistic subjects

#### **2.1 Natural resources use for developing economic activities**

Natural resources consumption represents an activity with environment impact generated by the impossibility to restore the consumed resource in a short period. The economic activities with potential environment impact are agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing, and mining and the extractive industry, energy production and consumption, water use, soil use and landscape transformation.

Sustainable Development – 234 Energy, Engineering and Technologies – Manufacturing and Environment

 Attracting in the environment statistic circuit of those data corresponding to administrative sources, for filling the data fond necessary to comprehensive reflection of the environment problems such as: climate change, air acidification and pollution, exhausting natural resources, exhausting and polluting water resources, urban

Adopting the European definitions, classifications and unique harmonized naming by

Projecting and implementing a coherent survey system which would use questionnaires

 Building statistics based on calculus models for those domains, which cannot be informational, covered by statistic surveys or administrative data, such as the case of

When developing the set of environment statistic variables, the present international achievements indicate a preference for combing the environment elements based approach with the one referring to the pressure-status-response and few components from the resource management approach. In Romania, the National Statistic Institute maintains the same conception, a reason for which we would restore a possible draft for developing the environment statistic system of subjects and variables, a draft achieved by combining the

**impact**

•The natural capital arrangement and reconstitution

**Society**

•Natural catastrophes prevention and risk attenuation

Natural resources consumption represents an activity with environment impact generated by the impossibility to restore the consumed resource in a short period. The economic activities with potential environment impact are agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing, and mining and the extractive industry, energy production and consumption, water use, soil use

•Pollution surveillance and fighting

Fig. 3. A draft for developing the environment statistic subjects

**2.1 Natural resources use for developing economic activities** 

**Environment impact**

•Natural resources stock variation •The quality of environment

elements

**signals**

environment deterioration and waste flow;

three types of approaches mentioned earlier (Fig. 3).

**reactions**

**Economic-social activities and natural events**

•The use of natural resources for developing economic activities •Offal evacuations and emissions

and landscape transformation.

•Natural events

the Governmental and non-governmental institutions;

that cover essential domains of the environment statistics;

greenhouse effect gases, chemicals diminishing the ozone layer etc.

**Agriculture** may have environmental incidence by raising the production determined by a growth in cultivated surface or animal effective, either by a growth in agricultural efficiency (Fig. 4.).

Fig. 4. The ecological impact of agriculture

The statistic subjects which reflect the connection between agriculture and environment refer to a growth of agricultural production (either by extensive agriculture, or intensive) and emphasizing the place of agriculture in the market economy (table 1).


Table 1. The statistic variables for highlighting the agriculture-environment relation

An Economy-Environment Integrate Statistic System 237

**Hunted birds**

**Hunted mammals**

**THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF HUNTING**

Over exploitation (negative impact)

Pest fighting (positive impact)

Fig. 6. The ecological impact of hunting

**Hunting Statistic variables** 

use of "brutal" fishing methods (Fig. 7.).

**Fishing Statistic variables** 

The economic Contribution

activity (table 4.).

Fish capture

(Fig. 8.).

**Hunted small animals**

The hunted mammals effective, on species Small animals hunted effective, on species Number of hunted birds, on species

The venison commercial value, on species

tourist infra structure, on types of products

Table 3 . The statistic variables for highlighting the hunting-environment relation

**The fishing** activity can create serious environmental damage by over exploitation and the

In a similar way to the hunting activity, in the case of fishing the main statistic subjects which can be developed refer to the fishing capture and the economic contribution of this

The impact of fishing and the extracting industry on the environment can be analyzed by referring to the following statistic subjects, associated to the cycles of mining exploitation

The export on types of products

Economic contribution The export of fish products, on species

Table 4. The statistic variables for highlighting the fishing-environment relation

The income selling specific equipment, hunting permits and the use of

The fish quantity harvested from the sea, on species

The fish quantity harvested from internal waters, on species The fish quantity harvested by sporting fishing, on species

The forestry activity has a negative impact on the environment because of forest commercial exploitation, but also a positive impact because of forestation interventions (Fig. 5.).

Fig. 5. The ecological impact of forestry

The statistic subjects identified by forestry activity and forest exploitation, connected to environment components consider the commercial exploitation of the forest; wood samples for population, natural loss (fires, diseases, pollution), natural regeneration and forestation (table 2.).


Table 2. Statistic variables for highlighting the forestry-environment relation

**The hunting** activity may also influence the environment by destroying fauna habitats as a result of over exploitation or by deliberate destruction of the injurious species (Fig. 6.).

The statistic variables that reflect the connection between hunting and environment refer to the hunting harvest and the economic contribution of this activity (table 3.).

Sustainable Development – 236 Energy, Engineering and Technologies – Manufacturing and Environment

The forestry activity has a negative impact on the environment because of forest commercial

**ECOLOGICAL IMPACT FOR FORESTRY ECOLOGICAL IMPACT FOR FORESTRY**

exploitation, but also a positive impact because of forestation interventions (Fig. 5.).

**Commercial exploitation**

**Natural regeneration**

The statistic subjects identified by forestry activity and forest exploitation, connected to environment components consider the commercial exploitation of the forest; wood samples for population, natural loss (fires, diseases, pollution), natural regeneration and forestation

The primary timber production

Naturally regenerated surfaces

Forestation surfaces

**The hunting** activity may also influence the environment by destroying fauna habitats as a result of over exploitation or by deliberate destruction of the injurious species (Fig. 6.).

The statistic variables that reflect the connection between hunting and environment refer to

Table 2. Statistic variables for highlighting the forestry-environment relation

the hunting harvest and the economic contribution of this activity (table 3.).

The exploited timber quantity by types of species

Timber exports without any transformation

The annual timber growth on wood species

The deforestation on types of essences

**Forestation**

**Fires**

Forest exploitation (negative impact)

Forestation and reforestation (positive impact)

Fig. 5. The ecological impact of forestry

the commercial exploitation of

regeneration and forestation

**Forestry Statistic variables** 

natural loss Losses on types of essences

(table 2.).

the forest

**Wood for population**

Fig. 6. The ecological impact of hunting


Table 3 . The statistic variables for highlighting the hunting-environment relation

**The fishing** activity can create serious environmental damage by over exploitation and the use of "brutal" fishing methods (Fig. 7.).

In a similar way to the hunting activity, in the case of fishing the main statistic subjects which can be developed refer to the fishing capture and the economic contribution of this activity (table 4.).

The impact of fishing and the extracting industry on the environment can be analyzed by referring to the following statistic subjects, associated to the cycles of mining exploitation (Fig. 8.).


Table 4. The statistic variables for highlighting the fishing-environment relation

An Economy-Environment Integrate Statistic System 239

Mine closing The number of closed mines by mineral type

type

**Electric energy**

**The energy consumed from regenerating sources**

**The energy consumed from not regenerating sources**

Table 6 presents the statistic subjects and variables highlighted by the analysis of the impact

The water use is the origin of many environmental problems, especially when the drawings from water bearing formations are made in a rhythm superior to the supply one. In dry areas, the drawing from watercourses may reduce the water quantity at the disposal of downstream users. Another subject of the preoccupation is constituted by the quality of residual water, when it's disposed in water streams, lakes or sea. The statistic subjects and variables, which create the framework of the statistic-economic analysis of water use, are given in table 7.

Fig. 9. The ecological impact of energy production and consumption

of energy production and consumption activities on the environment.

**Coal extractions**

**Discovering fossil fuels**

Table 5. The statistic variables for highlighting the mining, extracting industry- environment

**THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF ENERGY THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF ENERGY PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION**

The newly discovered reserves by mineral type

The value of mining production by mineral type The gross mineral export by mineral type

The metallurgy consumed minerals by procedure

The quarry production by mineral type

The underground mines production by mineral type The surface mines production by mineral type

**Mining and extracting industry Statistic variables** 

Mining exploitation by mine

The role of mineral resources in

Prospecting and exploitation

Energy transformation

The final use of energy

Saving energy sources

prospecting

the economy

relation

Mining production

Fig. 7. The ecological impact of fishing

Fig. 8. The ecological impact of mining and extracting industry

The statistic variables, which can be used to analyze the ecological impact of mining and the extracting industry, are presented in table 5.

The energy production and consumption have significant environment impact from the consumer perspective, and also from the pollution perspective. (Fig. 9.).

Sustainable Development – 238 Energy, Engineering and Technologies – Manufacturing and Environment

**Internal waters harvested fish**

**THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF MINING AND EXTRACTING INDUSTRY MINING AND EXTRACTING INDUSTRY**

**Surface mines production**

**Discovering new reserves**

**Underground mine production**

**Quarry production**

The statistic variables, which can be used to analyze the ecological impact of mining and the

The energy production and consumption have significant environment impact from the

Fig. 8. The ecological impact of mining and extracting industry

consumer perspective, and also from the pollution perspective. (Fig. 9.).

extracting industry, are presented in table 5.

**Sea harvested fish**

**THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT OF FISHING**

Commercial over exploitation (negative impact)

Advised sporting fishing (positive impact)

Fig. 7. The ecological impact of fishing

Mining prospecting

Mining production

Mine closing


Table 5. The statistic variables for highlighting the mining, extracting industry- environment relation

Fig. 9. The ecological impact of energy production and consumption

Table 6 presents the statistic subjects and variables highlighted by the analysis of the impact of energy production and consumption activities on the environment.

The water use is the origin of many environmental problems, especially when the drawings from water bearing formations are made in a rhythm superior to the supply one. In dry areas, the drawing from watercourses may reduce the water quantity at the disposal of downstream users. Another subject of the preoccupation is constituted by the quality of residual water, when it's disposed in water streams, lakes or sea. The statistic subjects and variables, which create the framework of the statistic-economic analysis of water use, are given in table 7.

An Economy-Environment Integrate Statistic System 241

The statistic analysis of waste emission and exhaustion resulted from economic- social activity consider the air polluting substances emission, the exhaustion of polluting substances in water and generating wastes. The statistic variables used in such analysis are

> The emitted quantity of polluting substances (nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, ammonia, organic and inorganic compounds, heavy metals, suspension powders) by type of polluting agents

The volume of residual water from the public sewage system, by

The volume of industrial residual water, by type of polluting

The quantity of polluting substances resulted from agricultural

The quantity of polluting substances in the rain (diffuse pollution

Other variables can be developed in concordance with the waste

type of polluting agents and hydrographic basins

practices (diffuse pollution due to agriculture)

agents and hydrographic basins

Soil, waters, air waste evacuations

These statistic subjects contain variables referring to natural phenomena, which can affect human population production, consumption and welfare. There is a synergetic effect between the natural phenomena and the impact of human activity on the environment. For example, a poor land use during drought may stimulate a deserting phenomenon; building human settlements in vulnerable or seismic areas cause destruction and human lives loss

The variables, which come out of, figure 10 describes the size and intensity of natural events,

The rainfall volume and its variation according to the average The temperature and its variation according to the average

**2.2 Waste emission and exhaustion** 

**exhaustion Statistic variables** 

and activities

due to acid rainfall)

Table 9. The statistic variables for highlighting waste emission and exhaustion

classification

classified by meteorological geological or biological origin (table 10.).

The landslides number

The number of epidemics Table 10. The specific statistic variables for describing the natural events

temperature

Geological risks The number of earthquakes

Biological risks The insect infested surfaces

**Natural events Statistic variables** 

presented in table 9.

**Waste emission and** 

Polluting substances

Polluting substances water exhaustion

The amount of wastes

**2.3 Natural events** 

Meteorological risks

(Fig. 10.).

air emission


Table 6. The statistic variables for highlighting the relation: energy production and consumption – environment


Table 7. The statistic subjects and variables for the water use analysis

The set of statistic subjects and variables which can be used in the soil use and landscape transformation analysis, as distinct aspects of the natural resources use with the purpose of economic activity development, is given in table 8.


Table 8. The statistic subjects and variables specific to the economic activity which imply soil use and landscape transformation

#### **2.2 Waste emission and exhaustion**

Sustainable Development – 240 Energy, Engineering and Technologies – Manufacturing and Environment

other fossil fuel prospecting ), by resource type The volume of natural gas and oil extraction

The energy final consumption by activity type

The imported or exported energy by energy type Table 6. The statistic variables for highlighting the relation: energy production and

Water drawing Water drawn from surface sources, by types of sources Water drawn from underground sources

Table 7. The statistic subjects and variables for the water use analysis

lakes, canals

commerce

The water quantity used in agriculture

The energy consumption/ habitant and by energy type

The prospecting number (oil resources, natural gas and coal, discovering

The quantity of fossil fuel used to produce thermal energy, by fuel type

The electricity production based on classic systems, by types of sources The electricity and thermal energy production from unconventional, by

The intermediate energy consumption by activity type or industries

The proportion of energy consumption from renewable or non-

The water quantity used in industry, by activity type The water quantity used for energy production The water quantity consumed by households

Changes in soil use between activity sectors, by soil use form Changes in soil use inside the economic sector, by soil use form

Hydrological structuring by creating dams, accumulation

Achieving substructures for: mining, forest exploitation and

The set of statistic subjects and variables which can be used in the soil use and landscape transformation analysis, as distinct aspects of the natural resources use with the purpose of

The transport network by transport type

Creating residential and industrial areas

Table 8. The statistic subjects and variables specific to the economic activity which imply soil

The electricity production based on fossil fuels, by fuel type

**Energy production and** 

and

Energy transforming activities

Energy administration

Water use

**consumption** 

Prospecting

exploitation activities

Energy final use activities

consumption – environment

**Soil use and landscape** 

use and landscape transformation

Changing the destination

Environment reorganization

**Water use Statistic variables**

economic activity development, is given in table 8.

**transformation Statistic variables** 

**Statistic variables** 

sources type

renewable sources

The coal volume extraction

The statistic analysis of waste emission and exhaustion resulted from economic- social activity consider the air polluting substances emission, the exhaustion of polluting substances in water and generating wastes. The statistic variables used in such analysis are presented in table 9.


Table 9. The statistic variables for highlighting waste emission and exhaustion

#### **2.3 Natural events**

These statistic subjects contain variables referring to natural phenomena, which can affect human population production, consumption and welfare. There is a synergetic effect between the natural phenomena and the impact of human activity on the environment. For example, a poor land use during drought may stimulate a deserting phenomenon; building human settlements in vulnerable or seismic areas cause destruction and human lives loss (Fig. 10.).

The variables, which come out of, figure 10 describes the size and intensity of natural events, classified by meteorological geological or biological origin (table 10.).


Table 10. The specific statistic variables for describing the natural events

An Economy-Environment Integrate Statistic System 243

The level of air, soil and water quality is generally compared to standard quality norms. The statistic variables may express in terms of variation and frequency, the exceeding of admitted standards and the quality degree of each environment element (table 12.). The air quality is mainly determined by environmental pollutant concentrations. In this direction, in order to control the polluting chain and fight its effects must be used in all of the pollutant production and transmission stages the same concepts, definitions and classifications. The notion of water quality is more complex than the one of air quality, because quality parameters depend besides the pollution agents on the water uses. Establishing the statistic variables referring to water quality is necessary because of the preoccupations concerning the contamination of the hydrographic network, due to pollutant evacuations from industrial, agricultural and human settlements units. Soil quality influences the productivity of biological systems, and their degradation reduces the production of biological mass and the capacity to produce services. Natural factors, but also agriculture practices determine the variation in soil quality. In this manner, soil degradation can be connected with wrong work and use practices for agricultural crops, but also with land improvement activities and excessive use of agrochemical products. Also, a certain state of soil quality contributes to acid deposits resulted from atmospheric pollution, the humus loss as a result of chemical

The maximum effective concentration of pollutants by type of pollutant

The organic matter concentrations expressed by COD (Chemical oxygen demand – the oxygen quantity took from the water organic matter, used

The average monthly/annual pollutant concentration by type of

The frequency of exceeding the maximum admitted concentration

as a measurement unit for organic matter in domestic waters)

The physical and chemical properties of used waters

fertilizers applications, soil compaction due to agricultural machines use.

The chemical substances concentrations

The river length by quality classes

Toxic substances contaminated surface

The surface of irrigation degraded soil

Table 12. The statistic variables for the emphasis of environment elements quality

be achieved with the help of following statistic variables highlighted in table 13.

The improvement of resource consumption in the classical meaning, considers an economic productivity maximization of natural resources for the growth of production units which use these resources, such as: agriculture, forest exploitation, fishing and the extracting industries. A statistic expression for the arrangement and natural capital reconstitution can

**Statistic variables** 

polluting agents

Deserted surface Eroded surface

The acid deposits surface

**2.6 The arrangement and reconstitution of natural capital** 

agents

**2.5 The environment elements quality** 

**Environment element** 

Air

Water

Soil

Fig. 10. Natural events

#### **2.4 The natural resources stock variation**

The statistics subjects included in this category devolve from the informational system, which considers the lasting resource management. The emphasis is put on growth or reduction of biological resources stock and of cyclic resources (water, soil and minerals). From the environment's point of view, a reduction of the biological resources stock happens when the exploitation exceeds the natural regeneration rhythm (table 11.).


Table 11. The statistic variables for the analysis of natural resources stock variation

#### **2.5 The environment elements quality**

Sustainable Development – 242 Energy, Engineering and Technologies – Manufacturing and Environment

**Drought Meteorological** 

The statistics subjects included in this category devolve from the informational system, which considers the lasting resource management. The emphasis is put on growth or reduction of biological resources stock and of cyclic resources (water, soil and minerals). From the environment's point of view, a reduction of the biological resources stock happens

The net variation of land surfaces

The variation of forest biological mass

The variation of the fish population The level variation for surface water

The livestock net variation The net variation of forests

Table 11. The statistic variables for the analysis of natural resources stock variation

The net variation of annual cultures biological mass

The losses of productive soil due to land use changes

The initial reserve of mineral resources by mineral type The annual production of mineral reserves by mineral type

The modification of the average flow of water streams

The losses of productive soil due to corrosion

The variation of the lakes stocking capacity

when the exploitation exceeds the natural regeneration rhythm (table 11.).

**Over heating Cooling below normal**

> **Structural changes**

**Human lives loss**

**Qualitative modifications**

**Destructions**

**Floods**

**Temperature**

**Land slides**

**Insect infestation**

**Epidemics**

**Earthquakes**

**events**

**Geological events**

**Biological events**

**2.4 The natural resources stock variation** 

**Environment elements Statistic variables** 

Fig. 10. Natural events

Soil/subsoil

Water

**Rainfall**

The level of air, soil and water quality is generally compared to standard quality norms. The statistic variables may express in terms of variation and frequency, the exceeding of admitted standards and the quality degree of each environment element (table 12.). The air quality is mainly determined by environmental pollutant concentrations. In this direction, in order to control the polluting chain and fight its effects must be used in all of the pollutant production and transmission stages the same concepts, definitions and classifications. The notion of water quality is more complex than the one of air quality, because quality parameters depend besides the pollution agents on the water uses. Establishing the statistic variables referring to water quality is necessary because of the preoccupations concerning the contamination of the hydrographic network, due to pollutant evacuations from industrial, agricultural and human settlements units. Soil quality influences the productivity of biological systems, and their degradation reduces the production of biological mass and the capacity to produce services. Natural factors, but also agriculture practices determine the variation in soil quality. In this manner, soil degradation can be connected with wrong work and use practices for agricultural crops, but also with land improvement activities and excessive use of agrochemical products. Also, a certain state of soil quality contributes to acid deposits resulted from atmospheric pollution, the humus loss as a result of chemical fertilizers applications, soil compaction due to agricultural machines use.


Table 12. The statistic variables for the emphasis of environment elements quality

#### **2.6 The arrangement and reconstitution of natural capital**

The improvement of resource consumption in the classical meaning, considers an economic productivity maximization of natural resources for the growth of production units which use these resources, such as: agriculture, forest exploitation, fishing and the extracting industries. A statistic expression for the arrangement and natural capital reconstitution can be achieved with the help of following statistic variables highlighted in table 13.

An Economy-Environment Integrate Statistic System 245

In front of natural forces, the reaction may be scientific, technical, biological, administrative and humanitarian. The variables presented in this category (table 15.) describe the measures took in order to prevent floods, the operation of catastrophes surveillance and foreseeing, emergency measures for reducing their effects (meaning evacuating the population, etc.).

The number of researches by activity type

Table 15. The statistic variables for emphasizing the preventing actions for natural

Administrative regulations by regulation type

The economy-environment integrated statistic analysis can be applied in different stages of the decisional process, such as: identifying environment priorities, identifying the pressure points, projecting environment policy, evaluating the policy's effects. The data can be used to monitor the effects of environment policies in the terms of public and private commercial activities, as well as in terms of positive or negative sector effects induced by different

This research was supported by Human Recourses Program, Grant no. TE\_336/2010, (agreement no. 45/03.08.2010), financed by National University Research Council (CNCSIS-

Bran, F. (2002). *Componenta ecologică a deciziilor de dezvoltare economică*, ASE Printing House,

Bryant, D., Nielsen, D., Tangley, L. (1997), *The last frontier forests: ecosystems and economies on* 

Ehrlich, P.R. (2002), Human Natures, Nature Conservation, and Environmental Ethics,

Glaser, M. (2006), The social dimension in ecosystem management: strengths and

Grădinaru, G. (2008). *Tehnici de analiză statistică a beneficiilor de mediu.* ASE Printing House,

Grădinaru, G. (2004). *The bases of Environment Statistics.* ASE Printing House, Bucharest. Grădinaru, G., Colibabă, D., Voineagu, V. (2003). *Quantitative Methods for Environment Data* 

weaknesses of human-nature mind maps, *Human Ecology Review*, vol.13, nr.2, pp.

*the edge*, World Resources Institute, Washington DC. Cox, S., Searle, B. (2009), *The sate of ecosystem services*, The Bridgespan Group.

*BioScience*, vol.52, nr.1, pp. 31-43.

*Analyses*. ASE Printing House, Bucharest.

The physical substructure for natural catastrophe protection

**2.8 Preventing natural catastrophes an risk attenuation** 

**Types of activities Statistic variables** 

Control Biological activities

catastrophes and risk attenuation

Prevention

**3. Conclusion** 

**4. Acknowledgment** 

Bucharest.

122-142.

Bucharest.

sectors.

UEFISCDI).

**5. References** 


Table 13. The statistic variables for describing the arrangement and reconstitution of natural capital

#### **2.7 Pollution supervision and control**

There are more categories of statistic variables, which can describe the activities of pollution supervision and control (table 14.).


Table 14. The statistic variables for the description of the pollution supervision and control

#### **2.8 Preventing natural catastrophes an risk attenuation**

In front of natural forces, the reaction may be scientific, technical, biological, administrative and humanitarian. The variables presented in this category (table 15.) describe the measures took in order to prevent floods, the operation of catastrophes surveillance and foreseeing, emergency measures for reducing their effects (meaning evacuating the population, etc.).


Table 15. The statistic variables for emphasizing the preventing actions for natural catastrophes and risk attenuation

#### **3. Conclusion**

Sustainable Development – 244 Energy, Engineering and Technologies – Manufacturing and Environment

Protected areas Protected fauna

resources

nature

The national parks network

Restored agricultural land Trees cultivated land

Table 13. The statistic variables for describing the arrangement and reconstitution of natural

There are more categories of statistic variables, which can describe the activities of pollution

and hydrographic basins

Waste recycling

Protected species of flora and fauna

The number of researches concerning pollution

Pollution fight by pollutant type and ecosystem Restoring operation by ecosystem and pollutant type

The quantity of dangerous waste treated

The volume of cleaned residual water

don't endanger the environment

Households' waste recycling

the size of the vehicle, etc.) Recycling materials

Table 14. The statistic variables for the description of the pollution supervision and control

The number of air or water quality supervision stations

The number of water treating stations by type of treatment

The mud quantity evacuated by hydrographic basin type

Public funds allocation for the enterprises pollution fight

(Choosing lead free gas, using paper wrappings, choosing

The necessary cost for managing dangerous waste

Investments for environment protection techniques The costs engaged for producing consumer goods which

The modifications in the expenses structure

Buying products with low environment impact The consumption modalities by type of consumer

The population behavior on what concerns the

participation to the recycling process

Public expenses for arranging and restoring natural

The personnel engaged in protecting and conserving

**The arrangement and** 

Nature protection and

Reconstitution of degraded

**2.7 Pollution supervision and control** 

**and control Statistic variables** 

supervision and control (table 14.).

**Pollution supervision** 

Pollution research and environment supervision

pollution fighting

The means to fight

Actions started by enterprises

**The households' reactions** 

pollution

Environment restoring and

conservation

environment

capital

**reconstitution of natural capital Statistic variables** 

The economy-environment integrated statistic analysis can be applied in different stages of the decisional process, such as: identifying environment priorities, identifying the pressure points, projecting environment policy, evaluating the policy's effects. The data can be used to monitor the effects of environment policies in the terms of public and private commercial activities, as well as in terms of positive or negative sector effects induced by different sectors.

#### **4. Acknowledgment**

This research was supported by Human Recourses Program, Grant no. TE\_336/2010, (agreement no. 45/03.08.2010), financed by National University Research Council (CNCSIS-UEFISCDI).

#### **5. References**


**11** 

*Brazil* 

**Sustainable Performance and** 

Márcio Ricardo Costa dos Santos

*Universidade Federal Fluminense (ASPI/UFF) Academia de Medicina Veterinária (AMVERJ) Instituto Camboinhas Ambiental (ICA-Nit)* 

**Environmental Health in Brazil:** 

**How to Understand and Measure!** 

Living together of people in harmony with nature is fundamental both for social development and for improving the quality of life and must be evidenced primarily by professionals involved in agricultural and health sciences. However, since the beginning of colonization of Brazil our natural resources have been exploited as predatory, and just consider, as an example, the Atlantic forest, one of the most valuable ecosystems of Brazil, which currently has only 7.3% of their original coverage. Our settlers-users enjoyed nature with careless posture and it has been almost totally destroyed. So if undertaken by centuries, through the industrial revolution, and expanding biotechnology for agricultural production, it has been consolidated in diverse environmental problems. The existence of these problems, in all regions of the country, requires the development and deployment of environmental educational programs, important in attempting to reverse or minimize this framework, to become an odd question and impregnate the consciousness of ecologically

Applications of technologies innovations contribute always more for global development; from the economical, social and environmental point of view, to produce more with respect to the living beings, and they are becoming hard to observe. The enterprise productive activities demand attention for research and the application of environmental evaluation systems, before the magnifying of the use of biotechnology products, because of the gradual focus changing to the green chemistry, biopharmaceuticals and bioenergy. Certification and rastreability methods gain importance on this process, with the establishment of multiple or mutually exclusive objectives between the social agents. Among the possible alternatives to carry out assessments of socio-environmental performance of urban and rural activities, the use of ecological and social indicators of sustainability and health has been a method of choice. The indicators should be organized in impact assessment systems that may span increasing levels of complexity and goal requirements for the environmental health

**1. Introduction** 

correct on all levels of our society.

management (Santos & Rodrigues, 2008; Santos, 2010).

