Environmental Policies
#28Key Findings
Inefficient and fragmented strategies place Belgium in the lower-middle ranks internationally (rank 28) in terms of environmental policy. Its score on this measure has improved by 0.1 point relative to 2014.
The political landscape has made it difficult to bring greenhouse gas emissions under control. The government recently upped its emissions-reduction ambitions, but a rift between regions on burden-sharing has delayed implementation. The country is not on track to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and renewables account for a comparatively low share of energy consumption.
A plan to phase out nuclear power has been threatened by uncoordinated plans to build alternative electric power production facilities. Gasoline-powered cars will be banned in several cities including Brussels after 2030, creating strong demand for e-vehicles. Vehicle regulations have helped reduce particle emissions.
The country is an EU leader in the areas of waste collection and recycling, and has dynamic circular-economy policies. Green Party environmental and energy ministers have pushed national policies and international cooperation forward in recent years, but resistance has come from some regions.
The political landscape has made it difficult to bring greenhouse gas emissions under control. The government recently upped its emissions-reduction ambitions, but a rift between regions on burden-sharing has delayed implementation. The country is not on track to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and renewables account for a comparatively low share of energy consumption.
A plan to phase out nuclear power has been threatened by uncoordinated plans to build alternative electric power production facilities. Gasoline-powered cars will be banned in several cities including Brussels after 2030, creating strong demand for e-vehicles. Vehicle regulations have helped reduce particle emissions.
The country is an EU leader in the areas of waste collection and recycling, and has dynamic circular-economy policies. Green Party environmental and energy ministers have pushed national policies and international cooperation forward in recent years, but resistance has come from some regions.
Graph View
Graph View
How effectively does environmental policy in your country protect and preserve the sustainability of natural resources and environmental quality?
10
9
9
Environmental policy goals are ambitious and effectively implemented as well as monitored within and across most relevant policy sectors that account for the largest share of resource use and emissions.
8
7
6
7
6
Environmental policy goals are mainly ambitious and effectively implemented and are monitored within and across some of the relevant policy sectors that account for the largest share of resource use and emissions.
5
4
3
4
3
Environmental policy goals are neither particularly ambitious nor are they effectively implemented and coordinated across relevant policy sectors.
2
1
1
Environmental concerns have been largely abandoned.
As on other fronts, Belgium’s environmental policy ranges from bad to exemplary, depending on the dimension of concern. With regard to waste collection and recycling, Belgium is among the EU leaders (European Commission, 2019, doi:10.2779/54230). Belgium (Flanders taking the lead here) also features very dynamic circular economy policies. All regions have active green infrastructure initiatives, and provincial and municipal authorities are quite proactive in pushing a variety of environmentally friendly policies in areas such as waste management, green mobility and nature conservation. These are visible, politically conspicuous and clearly rewarded initiatives.
When it comes to the politically more sensitive dimension of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the outlook is different. It is widely accepted that one of the policy components will require increasing the cost of energy, a particularly thorny political issue. The political landscape makes this even thornier in Belgium, and the OECD’s 2021 Environmental Review headline is plain: “Belgium is not on track to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.” The stated objective of the new National Energy and Climate Plan was to cut GHG emissions by 35% between 2005 and 2030. The COP26 meetings induced Belgium to talk about upping this ambition, to a 47% cut in sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). But this seems mainly to have opened a new rift between regions about the burden-sharing agreement. Decisions about how to progress in this direction are still in the making.
As for healthcare, Belgium boasts a record number of ministers with responsibilities for environmental matters (at least four). The OECD writes that “the fragmentation of competences and lack of an independent coordinating body hamper development of a shared long-term vision and implementation of coherent policies. … Oil and gas dominate the energy mix. … Energy supply from renewable sources has increased but accounted for only 9.4% of gross final energy consumption in 2018, half the EU average.” At any rate, the OECD projections are that Belgian GHG emissions will actually increase until 2030 under existing measures.
According to a ranking by a collective of environmental NGOs, Belgium fell from 16th place in 2015 to 49th place this year, one of the worst performers among EU countries.
While there are several initiatives to accelerate Belgium’s energetic and sustainability transition, they come across as improvised, poorly planned and uncoordinated. Back in 2003, the federal government imposed rules that would phase out the use of nuclear power by 2025. But this did not translate into a sufficiently proactive policy to implement the transition until 2021. At the end of 2021, a botched attempt to auction off the right to build fresh production capacity (by building new gas-turbine stations) left Belgian parties still wondering if the country can actually afford to close nuclear power stations built in the early 1970s. Meanwhile, the demand for electricity is bound to increase. Several cities, including Brussels, embarked on a policy of forbidding GHG-emitting vehicles by 2030. This is already translating into a strong growth in demand for electricity-powered vehicles, although the plans to build charging stations are scheduled to end several years after the 2030 deadline.
On a more positive note, the reduction in particle emissions has been noteworthy, thanks to tighter vehicle regulations. Moreover, Belgium boasts companies that are leading in the recycling of used equipment and cars (including batteries) and in developing various green technologies. Remaining challenges include reducing nitrogen oxides emissions, reducing the release of nitrates that pollute water and soils, and accelerating the modernization of buildings with respect to insulation and energy consumption.
Citations:
https://ccpi.org/country/BEL/
Official national sources
- https://www.plannationalenergieclimat.be/fr
- https://climat.be/politique-climatique/belge/nationale/plan-national-energie-climat-2021-2030
- https://climat.be/politique-climatique/belge/nationale/repartion-des-charges
- https://www.elia.be/en/electricity-market-and-system/adequacy/capacity-remuneration-mechanism#
- https://mobilit.belgium.be/fr/nouvelles/nieuwsberichten/2021/cop26_la_belgique_promet_un_engagement_fort_en_matiere_de_transport
OECD
https://www.oecd.org/env/oecd-environmental-performance-reviews-belgium-2021-738553c5-en.htm
http://www.oecd.org/belgium/environmental-tax-profile-belgium.pdf
NGO ranking:
- https://ccpi.org/country/BEL/
Press articles:
- https://www.lesoir.be/405425/article/2021-11-09/cop26-les-belges-actent-labsence-daccord-national-sur-les-objectifs-climatiques
- https://www.lesoir.be/405384/article/2021-11-09/lutte-contre-le-rechauffement-climatique-la-belgique-est-lun-des-plus-mauvais
- https://www.lesoir.be/405877/article/2021-11-11/climat-les-parlementaires-appellent-les-gouvernements-sentendre
- https://www.lesoir.be/187104/article/2018-10-29/anvers-parmi-les-regions-les-plus-polluees-du-monde
- https://www.lesoir.be/406683/article/2021-11-17/laffaire-climat-va-en-appel-contre-letat-belge
When it comes to the politically more sensitive dimension of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the outlook is different. It is widely accepted that one of the policy components will require increasing the cost of energy, a particularly thorny political issue. The political landscape makes this even thornier in Belgium, and the OECD’s 2021 Environmental Review headline is plain: “Belgium is not on track to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.” The stated objective of the new National Energy and Climate Plan was to cut GHG emissions by 35% between 2005 and 2030. The COP26 meetings induced Belgium to talk about upping this ambition, to a 47% cut in sectors not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). But this seems mainly to have opened a new rift between regions about the burden-sharing agreement. Decisions about how to progress in this direction are still in the making.
As for healthcare, Belgium boasts a record number of ministers with responsibilities for environmental matters (at least four). The OECD writes that “the fragmentation of competences and lack of an independent coordinating body hamper development of a shared long-term vision and implementation of coherent policies. … Oil and gas dominate the energy mix. … Energy supply from renewable sources has increased but accounted for only 9.4% of gross final energy consumption in 2018, half the EU average.” At any rate, the OECD projections are that Belgian GHG emissions will actually increase until 2030 under existing measures.
According to a ranking by a collective of environmental NGOs, Belgium fell from 16th place in 2015 to 49th place this year, one of the worst performers among EU countries.
While there are several initiatives to accelerate Belgium’s energetic and sustainability transition, they come across as improvised, poorly planned and uncoordinated. Back in 2003, the federal government imposed rules that would phase out the use of nuclear power by 2025. But this did not translate into a sufficiently proactive policy to implement the transition until 2021. At the end of 2021, a botched attempt to auction off the right to build fresh production capacity (by building new gas-turbine stations) left Belgian parties still wondering if the country can actually afford to close nuclear power stations built in the early 1970s. Meanwhile, the demand for electricity is bound to increase. Several cities, including Brussels, embarked on a policy of forbidding GHG-emitting vehicles by 2030. This is already translating into a strong growth in demand for electricity-powered vehicles, although the plans to build charging stations are scheduled to end several years after the 2030 deadline.
On a more positive note, the reduction in particle emissions has been noteworthy, thanks to tighter vehicle regulations. Moreover, Belgium boasts companies that are leading in the recycling of used equipment and cars (including batteries) and in developing various green technologies. Remaining challenges include reducing nitrogen oxides emissions, reducing the release of nitrates that pollute water and soils, and accelerating the modernization of buildings with respect to insulation and energy consumption.
Citations:
https://ccpi.org/country/BEL/
Official national sources
- https://www.plannationalenergieclimat.be/fr
- https://climat.be/politique-climatique/belge/nationale/plan-national-energie-climat-2021-2030
- https://climat.be/politique-climatique/belge/nationale/repartion-des-charges
- https://www.elia.be/en/electricity-market-and-system/adequacy/capacity-remuneration-mechanism#
- https://mobilit.belgium.be/fr/nouvelles/nieuwsberichten/2021/cop26_la_belgique_promet_un_engagement_fort_en_matiere_de_transport
OECD
https://www.oecd.org/env/oecd-environmental-performance-reviews-belgium-2021-738553c5-en.htm
http://www.oecd.org/belgium/environmental-tax-profile-belgium.pdf
NGO ranking:
- https://ccpi.org/country/BEL/
Press articles:
- https://www.lesoir.be/405425/article/2021-11-09/cop26-les-belges-actent-labsence-daccord-national-sur-les-objectifs-climatiques
- https://www.lesoir.be/405384/article/2021-11-09/lutte-contre-le-rechauffement-climatique-la-belgique-est-lun-des-plus-mauvais
- https://www.lesoir.be/405877/article/2021-11-11/climat-les-parlementaires-appellent-les-gouvernements-sentendre
- https://www.lesoir.be/187104/article/2018-10-29/anvers-parmi-les-regions-les-plus-polluees-du-monde
- https://www.lesoir.be/406683/article/2021-11-17/laffaire-climat-va-en-appel-contre-letat-belge
Graph View
To what extent does the government actively contribute to the design and advancement of global environmental protection regimes?
10
9
9
The government actively contributes to international efforts to design and advance global environmental protection regimes. In most cases, it demonstrates commitment to existing regimes, contributes to their being advanced and has introduced appropriate reforms.
8
7
6
7
6
The government contributes to international efforts to strengthen global environmental protection regimes. It demonstrates commitment to existing regimes and occasionally contributes to their being advanced and/or has introduced some appropriate reforms.
5
4
3
4
3
The government demonstrates commitment to existing regimes, but does not contribute to their being advanced and has not introduced appropriate reforms.
2
1
1
The government does not contribute to international efforts to strengthen global environmental protection regimes.
Global efforts to foster environmental protection are coordinated by the European Commission. Until recently, the Belgian federal government took a backseat role in that process. As an illustration, in the 2009 – 2014 federal government, the portfolio of minister of sustainable development was held by the minister of finance.
Things have changed since the formation of the most recent federal government (the De Croo I cabinet, installed in 2020), with two Green Party ministers now in charge of the environmental and of energy portfolios. However, these ministers in some cases face resistance from regional governments with different party majorities. As a case in point, the federal minister of energy has made it her top priority to enact the 2003 law that called for the closure of nuclear power plants by 2025. One key strategic element of that strategy is the auctioning of new gas-powered units to partially compensate for the lost capacity. However, the Flemish minister in charge of awarding building permits belongs to the right-of-center N-VA, which is fiercely opposed to the Green Party and altogether quite pro-nuclear power. Unsurprisingly, that minister blocked the permit for one of the main gas-powered stations, de facto forcing the federal minister to put the country’s energy supply security at risk.
The lack of a clear environmental strategy was dramatically visible at the COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. This meeting called for immediate action, but Belgium managed only to commit to a policy initiative led by Denmark to lay the groundwork for a zero-emission maritime transport sector. Both the OECD and the European Commission also stress the need for new measures to maintain biodiversity in the country.
Given the strong popular demand for a more active environmental policy, a demand reinforced by the catastrophic floods that hit Belgium in the summer of 2021, there is a reasonable chance that Belgium will eventually take a more active role in developing international (or at least EU) climate policy. But the path leading to this more active role is neither obvious nor certain.
Things have changed since the formation of the most recent federal government (the De Croo I cabinet, installed in 2020), with two Green Party ministers now in charge of the environmental and of energy portfolios. However, these ministers in some cases face resistance from regional governments with different party majorities. As a case in point, the federal minister of energy has made it her top priority to enact the 2003 law that called for the closure of nuclear power plants by 2025. One key strategic element of that strategy is the auctioning of new gas-powered units to partially compensate for the lost capacity. However, the Flemish minister in charge of awarding building permits belongs to the right-of-center N-VA, which is fiercely opposed to the Green Party and altogether quite pro-nuclear power. Unsurprisingly, that minister blocked the permit for one of the main gas-powered stations, de facto forcing the federal minister to put the country’s energy supply security at risk.
The lack of a clear environmental strategy was dramatically visible at the COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. This meeting called for immediate action, but Belgium managed only to commit to a policy initiative led by Denmark to lay the groundwork for a zero-emission maritime transport sector. Both the OECD and the European Commission also stress the need for new measures to maintain biodiversity in the country.
Given the strong popular demand for a more active environmental policy, a demand reinforced by the catastrophic floods that hit Belgium in the summer of 2021, there is a reasonable chance that Belgium will eventually take a more active role in developing international (or at least EU) climate policy. But the path leading to this more active role is neither obvious nor certain.