Welcome to the OECD/EEA database on instruments used for environmental policy and natural resources management
The last major changes to the database were made 5 May 2012. There are frequent updates to different parts of the information in the database. |
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This database has been developed in co-operation between OECD and the European Environment Agency. Below you can find queries that provide information on environmentally related taxes, fees and charges, tradable permit systems, deposit refund systems, environmentally motivated subsidies and voluntary approaches used in environmental policy in OECD member countries, OECD accession countries, EEA member countries and countries otherwise co-operating with EEA, not being members of OECD. A number of other countries have also been invited to provide information for the database, and information on some environmentally related taxes in South Africa is available. By clicking here you can see a list indicating membership in OECD and EEA. |
| How to use the database? |
| Go to the list of pre-defined queries below and choose a query that is of interest by clicking on it.
The set of queries called "General Information on all types of Instruments by Environmental Domain" provides a list of environmental domains, issues or themes (water pollution, air pollution, climate change, etc.) to choose from. By selecting one of these domains, you can extract some general information on all types of policy instruments contained in this database used in this area of environmental policy. Once you have selected a domain of interest, you will be taken to a list of flags where you can choose to obtain information concerning one or more countries -- or group of countries -- by placing a "tick" next to the relevant flags. Once you have made a selection of countries, click on the button "Submit" below or above the flags, to obtain the information available. The remaining sets of queries provide more detailed information on each of the different instrument categories covered. In many cases, a given instrument (or "scheme") consists of several parts (or "sub-schemes").
For example, grants and soft loans under a subsidy scheme would be separate sub-schemes. Likewise, if certain sectors are given "grandfathered" emission quotas under a tradable permits scheme, while other sectors have to buy their quotas, the permit scheme would be represented by (at least) two different sub-schemes.
For each type of instrument, the first query in the pop-up list will give the name of the instrument and provide information on the instrument as a whole, or on parts of the instruments, if there are several sub-schemes. This set of queries also contains information on any explicit links between a given (part of an) instrument and other policy instruments - like between a subsidy scheme and a tax or charge that directly is financing the given subsidies. For each type of instrument, there are also one or more additional queries that provide other types of information, for instance give information that apply to a specific year, or give details concerning the geographical and sectoral coverage, the types of activities supported under a subsidy scheme, trade volumes under a tradable permits scheme, etc. Click here to see further information on environmentally related taxes, fees and charges Updated 13.04.12. Click here to see comparisons of some tax rates over time.Updated 29.04.10. Click here to see comparisons of CO2-related tax rate differentiation in motor vehicle taxes. Updated 31.01.12. Click here to see information about environmentally related taxes in some other countries. Updated 04.05.12. Coverage and latest updatesThis database has been developed over a number of years, involving experts in ministries of finance, ministries of environment, etc. Generally the information is more complete for taxes than for other instruments, but coverage of the other instruments is improving. The information is in the process of being updated to be valid as of 01.01.2012. Average exchange rates for 2011 or 2010 were used to calculate the tax rates expressed in Euro in the OECD countries. By clicking here you can see a table that shows when the information concerning each member country was last updated, the exchange rates used, and some comments concerning the coverage of the information. How to print the results of a query?In case the table that presents the results of a query should be too wide to print properly, you can copy the table and paste it into e.g. Microsoft Excel, where you can adjust the width of the columns so that all the content is visible when printed. Some frequently asked questions about environmentally related taxes, fees and charges |
Queries into the OECD / EEA database on instruments used in environmental policy |
| Select a specific topic for one, several, or all countries: Click on one of the queries below to select the topic and see the choice of countries |
| All Information on a specific scheme |
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This query first lets you select a country, after that a particular instrument, and then provides all the information available on the instrument you have chosen. |
| Schemes related to given ISIC sectors or COICOP expenditure categories |
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This query lets you select either one or more sectors of the economy (based on the UN ISIC Rev 3.1 classification) or one or more household expenditure categories (based on the UN COICOP classification). You can, however, not in a single query combine an ISIC sector and a COICOP category. Once you have selected the sectors or expenditure categories of interest, the query will list all the instruments to which these sectors/categories have been linked. |
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General Information on all types of Instruments by Environmental Domain |
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Environmentally Related Taxes, Fees and Charges |
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Tradable Permit Systems |
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Deposit-Refund Systems |
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Environmentally Motivated Subsidies |
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Volontary Approaches |
