Belgium misses annual target for reducing non-industrial emissions

Belgium misses annual target for reducing non-industrial emissions
Whilst we Belgium has kept the annual target for three years, the country is now seeing an unexpected increase in emissions.

Recent definitive data have just been produced around greenhouse gas emissions. Le Soir is reporting on Thursday that this assessment has been sent to the European Commission at the beginning of this week. The data confirm that such gases are not reducing in Belgium, and are even in fact increasing.

Between 2014 and 2015, Belgian emissions had already increased, after years of constant reduction. From 2015 to 2016, the quantity of CO2 emitted even increased by 0.2%. Compared to 1990, our country is still recording a reduction of 19.2% in its emissions. However, the observation proves worrying.

Le Soir observes that it is non-industrial emissions which pose a problem. Yet they still form part of our country’s overall commitment: this is that Belgium should reduce its emissions by 15% in 2020 compared to 2005. This comprises transport, housing, offices and agricultural discharge, and indeed waste from other sectors. From 2013 onwards, the target for these emissions was intended to follow a linear reduction trajectory.

Whilst we have kept to our annual target for three years, for the first time we are observing an unexpected increase. The federal Department for the Environment concludes, “In 2016, the annual objective fell short by 0.4%.” This has amounted to an earlier than expected increase in emissions compared to anticipated projections for 2018.


The Brussels Times


Copyright © 2024 The Brussels Times. All Rights Reserved.