Climate action in Belgium: Latest state of play

The EU's binding climate and energy legislation for 2030 requires Member States to adopt national energy and climate plans (NECPs) to cover the 2021-2030 period. In October 2020, the European Commission published an assessment for each NECP. Belgian climate and energy policy is a combined effort of the Flemish, Walloon and Brussels Capital regions. A high proportion of Belgians (60 %) expect national governments to tackle climate change. Belgium accounts for 3.3 % of total EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has reduced emissions at a slower pace than the EU average since 2005. The carbon intensity of Belgium's economy is slightly lower than the EU average and has mirrored the decreasing EU trend closely since 2005. Emissions from energy industries have fell by almost 30 % between 2005 and 2019, with a 2.9 percentage point reduction for total emissions. Waste management was the sector with the biggest percentage reduction (55 % or 1.7 MtCO2e) in emissions since 2005. Transport and agriculture were the sectors with the lowest reduction. Under EU effort-sharing legislation, Belgium was aiming to reduce its emissions by 15 % by 2020, compared with 2005, and in 2019 was on track to achieving the target. Belgium reached a 9.9 % share of renewable energy sources in 2019. Its ambition to reach its 2030 target of a 17.5 % share focused mainly on wind and photovoltaic energy, biofuels and the use of waste heat. Measures to achieve the energy efficiency targets are focused on the building and transport sectors. This briefing is one in a series covering all EU Member States.