Wallonia will ban oil or coal boilers in new buildings from 1 January 2026, the region’s Energy Minister, Cécile Neven, announced on Thursday.
From that date, new constructions will need to include 35% renewable energy sources, while energy performance calculation and certification methods will be updated, Minister Neven said after a lengthy government meeting on nature and the environment.
For existing buildings, the government is considering postponing the ban on replacing old boilers. A schedule for this measure will be presented to the government later this year.
Previously, the government had intended to prohibit oil and coal boilers from 1 March 2025 in new buildings, and from 1 January 2026 in existing ones. However, the new majority quickly dismissed these goals as unrealistic.
The regional executive’s 'Stop Oil' initiative is just one of many decisions made on Thursday. A “coherent, transversal, and pragmatic” strategy to restore biodiversity was also approved, according to Agriculture Minister Anne-Catherine Dalcq.
The aim is to effectively restore Wallonia’s ecosystems and achieve strong protection for 5% of its territory, through targeted actions, strengthened guidance with the administration playing a central role, and a controlled budget.
Additionally, the law on nature conservation will be modernised, simplifying administrative procedures and introducing targeted measures that provide functional tools for stakeholders.
“To meet the challenges of nature restoration, we must act with coherence, method, and ambition,” Minister Dalcq stressed. “The new strategy prioritises concrete results, supported by the administration and built with stakeholders.”
Efforts will now focus more on tangible actions rather than on awareness-raising, she concluded.
