The various Belgian governments, both federal and regional, have reached an agreement on how they are going to submit a National Climate and Energy Plan to the European authorities. Each region’s plan will be submitted as well as the federal plan together with the addition that extra measures will be added later on. Who should implement these measures has been left open for the time being. The debate continues.
In early November, Belgium missed a second deadline to submit the National Climate and Energy Plan to the European Commission, after Belgium earlier obtained a postponement last summer. The problem remains the same: Flanders does not want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much as Wallonia, Brussels or the federal government, which means Belgium will fall short of the European target.
Normally, Belgium has to reduce emissions by 47 per cent by 2030, while Flanders does not want to go beyond a 40 per cent reduction. The Walloon, Brussels and federal governments are committed to reducing emissions by 47 per cent.
Before the summer Flemish environment minister Zuhal Demir (Flemish nationalist/N-VA) suggested that each region’s plan should be brought together and included with a text notifying that additional measures would come later.
After a long discussion at the consultative committee at which all Belgian governments are represented, this proposal was now been adopted: each region’s plan will be submitted to Europe and additional measures will be included later.
Flanders does not intend to increase its target of a 40 percent reduction.
Belgium could compensate for the shortfall in climate action by buying up emission rights, but even then the question remains who will pay for it. Depending on the cost of a ton of CO2 in 2030, the cost quickly rises to over €1 billion.
Federal Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Flemish green) says Belgium can now finally submit a national plan to Europe. “Europe demands such a plan, the climate begs for it. The plan protects our citizens from the costly consequences of climate change”.
