Environmental pressure from the Trade, services and government (TSG) target sector: introduction
Introduction
The Trade, services and government target sector comprises all activities aimed at providing goods and services to users. The activities are conducted in a range of sectors such as wholesale and retail, catering, research, education, government and financial institutions, and the health-care and welfare sector (SIC codes 50 through 99, with the exception of 9000 (Environmental services)). The largest contribution to gross added value and employment comes from this target sector. Its share in environmental pressure is smaller.
Environmental pressure
Direct environmental pressure generated by the target sector consists mainly of waste, of which approximately 70% is office, shop and services waste and 20% cleaning waste. Emissions of carbon dioxide (mainly from the heating of premises) account for approximately 5% of national emissions. Environmental pressure also includes the emission of volatile organic compounds (excluding methane). VOC emissions have fallen by almost 60% since 1990 as a result of emission reduction measures under the KWS-2000 project. The Trade, services and government target sector makes major contributions to national discharges into surface water of, for example, mercury and diuron. With the exception of zinc emissions, the emissions of virtually all substances have fallen sharply since 1990. The target sector contributes to the following environmental themes: Climate change (greenhouse effect), Acidification, Toxic and hazardous substances and Waste management.
