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Flanders

Population: 6.252 million (2010)
GHG Emissions:  80.2 MtCO2e (2009)

Targets and Goals

  • Based on Belgiums Kyoto Protocol target (7.5%), the national burden sharing agreement provides a reduction of an average of 5.2% of the Flemish emissions in the period 2008-2012 compared to 1990 levels. 

 Top Actions

The second Flemish Climate Policy Plan (2006-2012) - the result of a broad public consultation process - is a comprehensive cross-sectoral plan which provides more than one hundred measures (a total of 114 in 2009) to meet the reduction targets arising from the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The measures are grouped within ten themes. Five sectoral themes (sustainable mobility, energy efficiency in the building sector, green energy supply, industry and agriculture and forests) and five horizontal themes (research and innovation, sensitization, flexibility mechanisms, adaptation and the exemplary role of the government). All these domestic measures significantly decrease the purchase of foreign emission rights.

Energy Efficiency

  • The Flemish Action Plan on Energy Efficiency (2008-2010) comprises the goals and measures that are taken in compliance with European Directive 2006/32/EC (On Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services). It sets an indicative savings target of 9% in final energy consumption to be realized in 2016 (16.959 GWh) and an intermediate target of 3% in 2010 (5.653 GWh). This corresponds to a savings target of 1% per annum from 2008 until 2016.

  • Energy Renovation Programme 2020: this comprehensive program is a mix of short, medium and long term measures and will lead to a gradual but accelerated elimination of energy inefficient housing by 2020. The Flemish Government aims for an average emissions reduction of 1.124 MtCO2e in existing houses in the 2008-2012 period and a savings potential of 30% by 2020. The ambitious goal is to insulate every roof, replace all single glazing by at least double glazing and remove all obsolete boilers.

Renewable Energy

  • The Flemish coalition agreement (2004-2009) strived for a share of 6% of renewable energy sources in electricity production by 2010, corresponding to the indicative Belgian target of 6% based on European Directive 2001/77/EG (on Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources). The agreement further foresaw that 19% of electricity supply was to be realized by combined heat and power (CHP). The new European Directive 2009/28/EC (On the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources) sets a binding target for Belgium of 13% of renewables in gross final energy consumption by 2020, which needs to be translated into a national burden sharing agreement.
  • Renewable Energy Certificates: In recent years, the Flemish policy concerning renewable energy aimed mainly at the development of electricity production from renewable energy sources through a quota system of renewable energy certificates. This system of certificates is an obligation for electricity producers to ensure that a minimum amount of their electricity sold originates from renewable sources (6% in 2010), which they can obtain by either producing electricity from renewables or by purchasing certificates on the market. This system contributes to an accelerated realization of the economic potential for green energy.
  • Ecology Subsidy: Companies making ecological investments in the Flemish Region can apply for a financial contribution in a tender procedure. 

Clean Transport

  • Transportation Tax Reform: To promote the purchase of environmentally friendly cars, a combined adjustment of the registration tax and the annual road tax for passenger cars will be drawn up at the Flemish level taking into account how environmentally friendly the vehicle is. The reform will coincide with the start of the tax collection by the Flemish Region. A reduction potential of 263,000 tonnes of CO2e/year has been estimated.

  • Ecoscore: The ecoscore is a number between 0 and 100 which indicates the environmental performance of a vehicle by taking into account different environmental impact factors caused by the vehicle. The closer to 100, the more environmentally friendly the vehicle is. On the one hand, the ecoscore takes into account the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) (mostly CO2) which cause global warming. On the other hand, the ecoscore considers the impact of emissions that have a direct, negative effect on human health (e.g. particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, etc.) and the impact of certain emissions on ecosystems. 

Sustainable Land Use

  • Stimulating renewable energy in agriculture and greenhouse farming: A centre of expertise for fresh woody biomass has been developed. This centre provides technical support to growers. 

Contact Information

Sofie Vanmaele
International Environmental Policy Adviser
Flemish Government
Environment, Nature and Energy Department
Koning Albert II-laan 20 bus 8
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel: +32 2 553 75 54
sofie.vanmaele@lne.vlaanderen.be

Key Links

Climate Policy Plan 2006-2012 (English)