EARTHTRENDS DATA TABLES For more information, please consult http://earthtrends.wri.org TECHNICAL NOTES: RESOURCE CONSUMPTION VARIABLE DEFINITIONS AND METHODOLOGY Passenger cars per 1000 people refers to road motor vehicles, other than two-wheelers, intended for the transport of passengers and designed to seat no more than nine people. Data are compiled by the World Bank from the International Road Federation (IRF) through questionnaires sent to national organizations, primarily national road associations. When national road associations lack data or do not respond to questionnaires, other agencies are contacted, including road directorates, ministries of transport or public works, and central statistical offices. Total energy consumption per capita, annual gasoline and diesel consumption per capita and annual electricity consumption per capita are calculated by WRI using data on energy consumption from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and population data from the United Nations Population Division. IEA uses an energy balance methodology based on the calorific content of energy commodities. All commodities are reported in metric tons of oil equivalent (toe) or kilograms of oil equivalent (kgoe), which are equivalent to the amount of energy in one ton or one kilogram of crude oil, respectively. One toe is also equal to 10 exp 7 kilocalories, 41.868 gigajoules or 11,630 kilowatt hours. Although differences in quality of commodities may result in different energy contents, IEA has applied uniform conversion factors supplied by national administrations. The IEA has used the following conventions in accounting for primary energy such as nuclear, solar, geothermal, hydro, wind, etc.: 1) The first form of energy production with multiple practical uses is reported. This means that heat is in the form reported for geothermal heat and electrical production, nuclear heat and electrical production and solar heat production. Electricity is the form reported for hydro, wind, wave and photovoltaic solar electricity production. 2) The physical energy content of the energy source is reported as energy production. For nuclear fuels, this is the heat energy produced in a nuclear reactor, for hydropower, it is the amount of energy in the electricity produced. Please refer to the original source for further information on the variables and collection methodologies. Total energy consumption per capita shows the total primary energy consumption, including losses through transportation, friction, heat loss and other inefficiencies, divided by the total population. Total energy consumption is equal to indigenous production plus imports minus exports plus stock changes minus international marine bunkers. Annual motor gas and diesel consumption per capita refers to the per capita consumption of motor gasoline and diesel combined. Motor gasoline is a light hydrocarbon oil for use in internal combustion engines such as motor vehicles, excluding aircraft. It is distilled between 35°C and 215°C and is used as a fuel for land based spark ignition engines. Motor gasoline may include additives, oxygenates and octane enhancers, including lead compounds such as TEL (tetraethyl lead) and TML (tetramethyl lead). Diesel oil includes heavy gas oils distilled between 180°C and 380°C. Several grades are available depending on uses: diesel oil for diesel compression ignition (cars, trucks, marine, etc.), light heating oil for industrial and commercial uses, and other gas oil including heavy gas oils which distil between 380°C and 540°C and which are used as petrochemical feedstocks. The data in this variable only considers the fuels used in road vehicles (including military) as well as agricultural and industrial highway use. It excludes motor gasoline used in stationary engines. Electricity consumption per capita measures the amount of electricity used by the end user, excluding losses due to transportation, friction, heat loss or other inefficiencies, divided by the total population. The data in this table was converted from tons of oil equivalent (toe) to kilograms of oil equivalent (koe). Figures for annual meat consumption per capita, annual fish consumption per capita and annual paper consumption per capita are calculated by WRI using production and trade data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and population data from the United Nations Population Division. Total consumption figures are calculated using a trade balance approach, where consumption equals production plus net imports. Where imports are less than exports, consumption will be lower than production. FAO collects production and trade information used to calculate consumption primarily through national surveys. In cases where countries do not respond to national surveys, FAO uses regional data and other statistical sources to make the best estimates. Annual meat consumption per capita, given in kilograms per person, refers to the average meat consumption per person per year. Meat consumption includes meat from animals slaughtered in countries, irrespective of their origin, and comprises horsemeat, poultry, and meat from all other domestic or wild animals such as camels, rabbits, reindeer, and game animals. Annual fish consumption per capita, expressed in kilograms per person, refers to the total food supply of fish and fishery products available to human consumption divided by the total population. Total food supply is calculated on a live weight basis, which means that total consumption assumes that all parts of the fish are consumed, including bones and organs. Annual paper consumption per capita refers to the average amount of paper and paperboard used per person, expressed in kilograms per person. Paper and paperboard include newsprint, printing and writing paper, packaging paper, household and sanitary paper, and other paper products. Annual coffee consumption per capita shows coffee consumption data in terms of kilograms of raw coffee beans per person. It is collected by the International Coffee Organization (ICO) through reports from ICO member countries. FREQUENCY OF UPDATE BY DATA PROVIDERS Data on passenger cars per 1000 people is published by World Bank in the World Development Indicators each April. As of October 2004, data were available annually from 1990 to 2001, with some data available for years prior to 1990. Total energy consumption per capita, annual motor gas consumption per capita and electricity consumption per capita is updated annually by the International Energy Agency (IEA). IEA provides for OECD countries from 1960 to 2001 and non-OECD countries from 1971 to 2001. Data on annual meat consumption per capita, annual fish consumption per capita and annual paper consumption per capita is updated annually by FAO and is available for most countries from 1961 to 2002. Population data used in these per capita calculations is updated by the United Nations Population Division every two years. Coffee consumption data is provided by the International Coffee Organization (ICO) annually. Data is available from 1984 to 2003. DATA RELIABILITY AND CAUTIONARY NOTES: Passenger cars per 1000 people data may differ across countries because of differences in definitions. In addition, the data does not capture the quality or age of vehicles or the conditions of roads. Data on total energy consumption per capita, annual motor gas consumption per capita and electricity consumption per capita data are primarily based on well-established and institutionalized accounting methodologies, and are therefore considered reliable. The data, as received from the provider, do not distinguish between no data and zero values. WRI has distinguished between the two where possible, but some values represented as zero should probably be indicated as ‘no data’ and vice versa. Caution should be exercised if considering using the data to extrapolate into the future. Energy usage is variable from year to year due to short-term factors such as the weather and the economy that significantly impact any one year's consumption. Data on meat, fish and paper production and trade (used in consumption calculations) reported to FAO is governed by established accounting practices and is therefore generally considered to be reliable. However, reporting countries vary in the quality of data they have available to report. Annual coffee consumption data is a result of reports from member countries of the International Coffee Organization. Their reliability depends on the methodology used in each country which may vary considerably. Data on re-exports are not included, so in countries where a large percentage of imported coffee is re-exported, data will be overestimations of the actual amount of coffee consumed. SOURCES Passenger Cars Per 1000 People: Development Data Group, The World Bank. 2004. World Development Indicators 2004 online (see http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=631625) Washington, D.C.: The World Bank. Gasoline, Diesel fuel, Electricity, and Energy Consumption: International Energy Agency (IEA). 2003. Energy Balances of OECD Countries (2003 Edition) and Energy Balances of non-OECD Countries (2003 Edition). Paris: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Electronic database available online at: http://data.iea.org/. Meat, Fish, and Paper Consumption: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2004. FAOSTAT on-line statistical service. Available on-line at http://apps.fao.org. Rome: FAO. Coffee Consumption: International Coffee Organization (ICO). 2004. Available on-line at http://www.ico.org. London : ICO. Population data for Per Capita Calculations: Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. 2003. World Population Prospects: The 2002 Revision. Dataset on CD-ROM. New York: United Nations.