March 20, 2026
A new study has discovered that old-growth forests in Sweden store far more carbon than the industrial tree plantations that are rapidly replacing them, with soil accounting for most of the difference. The untouched forests in Sweden store 72 percent more carbon than managed forests, locking away greenhouse gases in spruce, pine, and needle-covered soils. […]
March 19, 2026
Lier (Antwerp) is the 22nd Belgian city where the national mail service Bpost is introducing its sustainable parcel logistics. From now on, Bpost will deliver parcels and mail in Lier emission-free by equipping its postal workers with electric vans or bikes. Twenty-three postal workers will conduct their rounds electrically, delivering up to 2,000 parcels per […]
March 18, 2026
On the island of Malta, they are tackling traffic congestion with a remarkable measure: young drivers (aged 18-30) will receive 25,000 euros when they hand in their driver’s license for five years. The Maltese government introduced the measure to reduce the growing number of cars on the road. The new regulation was introduced in January […]
March 17, 2026
Two friends and fellow students, Alessandro Heirman (27) and Lindert Bottelberghe (25), from Ghent have developed software to catch motorists overtaking cyclists in a bicycle zone. “In combination with artificial intelligence (AI), we have developed a software system capable of using cameras, which can even be already installed cameras, to detect cars overtaking a cyclist […]
March 17, 2026
EnergyVision gives Flemish customers with solar panels free plug-in batteries. The batteries have a capacity of 2.12 kilowatt-hours and are installed as standard in all new and existing installations – without contract adjustment. They can be placed near a power outlet and connected by an EnergyVision technician. With this initiative, EnergyVision aims to equip families better […]
March 13, 2026
The European Space Agency (ESA) will launch a new series of satellites into space starting March 24. The goal is to create a new layer of low-flying satellites that will make the European navigation system more robust, secure, and resilient, including against external attacks. But precision and speed should also improve, which is important for drones […]
March 12, 2026
In January, public transport company De Lijn announced the launch of two autonomous shuttles in Leuven, operating on line 16, the new line connecting the train station with the station and the borough of Heverlee. According to De Lijn, “a European first for a public transport company.” The euphoria was short-lived, however, as a test […]
March 12, 2026
The European Commission has given the green light to the Flemish government’s support for a Kairos@C project to capture and store greenhouse gases. Kairos@C is an industrial climate project by the chemical giants BASF and Air Liquide in the Port of Antwerp. The Commission considers the measure to be in line with European State aid rules. […]
March 11, 2026
Work-from-home policies are becoming stricter again. A quarter of all Belgian companies (16.6%) want to see their employees back in the workplace more often – at least four days a week. In some companies, more than half of the employees are always expected on the work floor. On the other hand, barely 5 percent of employees want […]
March 10, 2026
In 2025, the number of road deaths fell to its lowest level ever recorded. Last year, 445 people died in traffic accidents on Belgian roads. In Flanders, there were 234 deaths, 14 fewer (-6%) than in 2024, and in Wallonia, the number of road fatalities also fell from 197 to 191 (-3%). The figures come from the […]
March 09, 2026
According to a new study by Grant Foster and Stefan Rahmstorf from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, the Earth is warming faster than ever before. The study also showed that the rate of warming in the last decade was higher than in any previous decade since the beginning of instrumental records in 1880. The paper was published […]
March 06, 2026
Ferries in port cities like Barcelona, Dublin, and Naples are responsible for more toxic air pollution (sulphur oxide or SOx) than all the cars in those cities, a new study by Transport & Environment (T&E) shows. Dublin is currently the most polluted port city in Europe for ferry air pollution, followed by Las Palmas and […]
March 06, 2026
Global mobility platform Bolt on Thursday announced the launch of its ‘Women for Women’ service in Brussels. The formula gives female users the option to book a taxi ride with female drivers, while female drivers can accept only female passengers. Users must book their ride at least 30 minutes in advance to ensure a match with […]
March 05, 2026
According to the used car platform AutoScout24, the Belgian second-hand car market is highly regionally diverse. Flanders leads the way in the premium segment; in Brussels and Wallonia, the cars are older. The brands considered ‘premium’ include Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Lexus. The average premium price in Flanders is 34,700 euros, and 29,200 euros […]
March 04, 2026
2026 will be the year of major roadworks in Flanders. Significant works are planned at 45 locations across Flanders, representing an investment of 1 billion euros – not including the Oosterweel project. The plans were announced last Tuesday by Annick De Ridder (N-V), Flemish Minister of Mobility and Public Works. Every year, work is planned to keep the […]
March 03, 2026
In Antwerp, the city council has given the green light for expanding the car-free zone in the city center. With the ‘Via Sinjoor’, the new car-free route, the city wants to create a virtually car-free boulevard through the city center. The goal is to create a more attractive and safer city center. The city council […]
March 02, 2026
Emissions from wood combustion in Flanders have risen sharply – by more than 44% in 2022 (and even 140% compared with 2019). Yet, the Flemish government reports to Europe that the figures are falling by 16%. Due to inaccurate reporting and a flawed wood-burning stove policy, the health risks are underestimated. Sales of wood and pellet […]
February 27, 2026
Social media has an impact on the traffic behaviour of young adults that should not be underestimated. The more often they witness unsafe traffic behavior on social media, the more likely they are to engage in risky behavior and receive traffic fines themselves. This is the conclusion of a recent study by the road safety institute […]
February 26, 2026
Electricity provider Engie offers free electricity during ‘happy hours’ when there is an oversupply of renewable energy. The offer applies to all Engie electricity customers, regardless of their contract. They only have to have a digital meter. Customers can register starting today by activating the Happy Hours service, and the offer is valid until June 1st. The […]
February 26, 2026
Tens of thousands of Flemish people risk a fine for failing to register a home charging station. Anyone installing a private charging point for an electric car, for example, in the driveway or garage, has been required to report this to Fluvius since June 2021, just as this is mandatory when installing solar panels or a home […]
February 25, 2026
At Droneport in Sint-Truiden, the Antwerp-based medical drone company Helicus is showcasing an automated ‘Drone Cargo Port’. The system is comparable to a parcel-locker-like terminal, where drones can independently load and unload parcels. It was designed to automate the air-to-ground cargo handoff – loading/unloading workflows, standardized handling, and repeatable operations. The technology has been specifically developed […]
February 24, 2026
Despite a sharp decline, Belgium’s climate footprint remains one of the largest in the European Union. According to the latest Eurostat report, Belgians emitted an average of over 10.3 tons of greenhouse gases in 2023, about 15% above the EU average, and roughly 60% above the world average. In 2023, the greenhouse gas footprint in the […]
February 20, 2026
From 2028 onward, postal workers at Bpost will no longer deliver mail on standard bicycles. In the near future, they will only use an electric bicycle. This year, Bpost has already placed its first new order for 440 e-bikes. According to Bpost, the decision is a logical evolution due to the increasing volume of parcels and […]
February 20, 2026
The share of employees who prefer the mobility budget over a company car continues to increase. According to HR service provider SD Worx, in the private sector, 7% of employees with a company car currently opt for the mobility budget. In Brussels, 16.2% (13.5% in 2024) of employees with a company car opt for a mobility budget; […]
February 19, 2026
In Antwerp, national rail company NMBS and rail manager Infrabel have begun work to enable a temporary reopening of the Antwerp-Linkeroever station. Due to major renovation work on the premetro between Linkeroever and Antwerp Central Station, thousands of tram passengers will soon have to find an alternative. De Lijn provides shuttle buses, but they have […]
February 18, 2026
The Cummins factory in Oevel (Westerlo, Belgium), formerly known as Hydrogenics, is stopping production of hydrogen technology after a quarter of a century. According to the unions, one hundred jobs will disappear. The publicly traded Cummins has halted global sales of electrolyzers; only current contracts are still being completed, leaving the company with losses of just […]
February 16, 2026
High copper prices are giving copper thieves new ideas. For example, several charging cables at fast chargers in Limburg were cut last weekend, leaving them unusable. Similar damage cases were recorded in Houthalen-Helchteren, Heusden-Zolder, and Peer. The police and the public prosecutor’s office have started an investigation. Record price levels The copper price has risen sharply in […]
February 13, 2026
The climate is no longer the US government’s problem. On Thursday, the Trump administration rolled back the mechanism allowing the government to regulate planet-heating pollution. Trump says he believes climate change is a hoax, and has withdrawn the United States from global efforts to combat it. President Trump officially disavowed scientific research that labels CO2 […]
February 11, 2026
On Tuesday, the European Parliament approved, by a large majority, the European Union’s new climate target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared with 1990 levels by 2040 – 413 Members of Parliament voted in favour, 226 against. The new target still needs to be endorsed by EU countries, which is expected for March […]
February 10, 2026
Belgium’s greenhouse gas emissions, especially CO2, have been falling for over twenty years, but in 2024, they stopped declining and even increased slightly again (about +0.2%) compared with 2023. Although long-term emissions are declining, projections indicate that current plans are not on track to meet EU or national targets for 2030. The rebound is mainly […]
February 06, 2026
Amid rising concern about global heating and soaring energy costs, the state of Michigan has sued major oil companies, alleging that they colluded to hamper the adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs). Michigan’s case specifically targets BP, Shell, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil, as well as the largest US oil lobby group, the American […]
February 06, 2026
The Belgian public transport operator De Lijn explored replacing paper timetables at bus stops with digital alternatives but ultimately decided to retain paper schedules after a pilot project showed significant limitations. Lijn has approximately 27,000 bus and tram stops in Flanders, most of which display paper timetables. These must be replaced regularly, at a cost of […]
February 05, 2026
Women in Iran can now officially obtain a scooter or motorcycle license, the Iranian news agency Ilna announced on Wednesday. Until now, women were not prohibited from riding motorcycles. Car licenses have long been allowed for women in Iran, yet motorcycle licenses were a real taboo, remaining an officially male-only ‘privilege.’ They were already riding […]
February 05, 2026
Six out of ten Brussels residents have given up their cars and switched to car sharing, according to a study by Brussels Mobility. Car sharing is no longer a marginal phenomenon, but is gradually becoming an essential tool for reducing the number of cars in the city, including for families. Brussels has the highest density of […]
February 04, 2026
In northern Antwerp, energy provider Fluvius has begun construction of Flanders largest heating network to date. Residual heat from the waste-processing company Indaver will be used from the end of this year to heat about 3,800 social housing units, eight schools, and a municipal workshop in the Luchtbal (Antwerp) and Rozemaai (Ekeren) neighborhoods. Such a […]
February 04, 2026
The mobility budget is becoming increasingly popular. In one year, the number of companies offering their employees a mobility budget has increased by a third. In 2024, 3.4% of all employers offered it; today, 4.5% do, according to new figures from HR service provider Acerta. What is a ‘mobility budget’? Employees who are entitled to a […]
February 04, 2026
Belgian retailer Colruyt will start a pilot project next month to have self-driving vans deliver groceries in Leuven. The project is an extension of Colruyt’s ‘Collect&Go’ service, which allows customers to order groceries online and pick them up at a Colruyt supermarket at their convenience. Colruyt primarily delivers to homes in and around major cities, […]
February 03, 2026
The European Union is struggling with its strategy to reduce its dependence on other countries for the supply of strategic raw materials for the energy transition. Obstacles hinder domestic production, and recycling remains embryonic. However, demand for these materials will only increase sharply over the decade. Raw materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare […]
February 02, 2026
Earlier this week, the European Commission, in its assessment of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), acknowledged that Belgium has raised its ambitions, but that the country still needs to make additional efforts in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Belgium’s environmental protection spending rose to €18 billion in 2023, equivalent to 3% of […]
February 02, 2026
Despite Bluetooth being standard in almost every modern car, one out of eight Belgian drivers (13%) still make calls with their mobile phones in hand. This is evident from new research published by the Vias Traffic Institute, and based on a survey conducted in eleven European countries among a representative sample of the population. Even more […]
January 30, 2026
Occupying a public charging station indefinitely without charging will be punished. Drivers who fail to respect charging station etiquette risk a hefty bill. The measure is already being implemented in Antwerp; Ghent and Brussels are following. After Antwerp introduced the so-called ‘rotation tariff’, Ghent and Brussels are also adopting the measure to deter users who leave […]
January 29, 2026
On Wednesday, Wallbox, a global provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, announced a new partnership with Eneco eMobility, one of the top three providers of smart charging stations in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, to support the continued scaling of commercial EV infrastructure. Under the deal, Wallbox will supply its commercial AC charger, called ‘eM4 Twin’, for initial […]
January 29, 2026
The Dutch government has done far too little to protect the inhabitants of Bonaire, an island in the Caribbean part of the Netherlands, from the consequences of climate change. The cabinet must therefore develop a concrete plan to protect Bonaire’s residents better. Furthermore, the government must establish “clear and binding” targets within eighteen months to reduce […]
January 28, 2026
Belgium has raised its ambitions in its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), but still needs to make further efforts in renewable energy and energy efficiency in the coming years. But for the time being, the country will not be presented with a multi-million dollar bill. If an EU member state fails to reduce its CO2 […]
January 28, 2026
A small ‘dunkelflaute’ hanging over Belgium is causing electricity prices to spike. The term ‘dunkelflaute’, a combination of the German words ‘dunkel’, meaning ‘dark’, and ‘Flaute’, meaning ‘lull’, describes the simultaneous occurrence of darkness and a lull in wind activity. Dunkelflautes occur several times every winter in Northwestern Europe. They usually last 1–3 days. The phenomenon […]
January 27, 2026
Last Monday, the countries bordering the North Sea, together with grid operators and the offshore wind industry, signed a new investment pact to relaunch and expand offshore wind power generation in the North Sea after several years of failed auctions and investor pullback. The pact agreed to during a summit in Hamburg includes connecting offshore wind […]
January 26, 2026
Of all those who had to retake their practical driving test last year (for example, after being revoked for driving under the influence), one in three candidates failed. The pass rate for the theoretical retest was even lower, GOCA Vlaanderen, the sector federation of vehicle inspection and driving licence examination centers, explains. In Belgium, drivers whose licence […]
January 23, 2026
Thirty times more money goes to destroying nature than to conserving it. In other words, for every US dollar the world invests in protecting nature, it spends $30 on destroying it. This stark imbalance is the central finding of a new UN Environment Program (UNEP) ‘State of Finance for Nature 2026’ report released on Thursday. It […]
January 22, 2026
The city of Amsterdam wants to ban sea cruises from 2035 onward. The Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA) must disappear. It is one of the most far-reaching decisions taken by a major European port city in the debate over cruise tourism, air pollution, and urban space. The departure of the terminal has “clear advantages for sustainability and the […]
January 22, 2026
Figures have already shown this, and the Belgian Vias traffic institute confirms it again: road safety is not gender-neutral. Men die on the road far more often than women. Women, meanwhile, face different — and often overlooked — dangers in daily mobility. In Belgium, nearly eight out of ten traffic fatalities are men. That ratio […]
January 21, 2026
2025 was, once again, the year of traffic jams. Never before had Flemish people spent more time stuck in traffic than last year. All vehicles together lost an average of almost 105,000 hours per day in traffic jams. This marks the first time the 100,000-hour mark has been surpassed. The figures come from the Flemish Traffic Center […]
January 19, 2026
Last year, a record number of speed pedelecs – 23,681 – were registered in Belgium, both new and used. “2025 was a record year for second-hand speed pedelecs (9,623 units, +24%) and the third best year ever for new ones (14,058 units, +2.6%),” explains Filip Rylant, spokesperson for mobility federation Traxio. “All in all, this […]
January 16, 2026
After 39 days and more than 13,600 kilometers on the open road across Africa, the Grand Electric Trans-African Expedition concluded on Sunday as the team returned to Kampala aboard a fully electric bus designed and built in Uganda, Kiira Motors Corporation’s flagship 13-meter Kayoola EV Model 2025. The journey, which began in November 2025 and […]
January 15, 2026
This weekend, from 16 to 18 January 2026, Kortrijk Xpo will host the 18th edition of Velofollies, the must-visit event for active cyclists and cycling enthusiasts. With over 300 exhibitors and nearly twice as many brands represented, the show will offer a complete range of bicycles, from recreational and utility models — e-bikes, urban bikes, […]
January 14, 2026
On Tuesday, the German bus company Flix, parent company of FlixBus, announced the acquisition of a majority share of Flibco, a leading European airport transfer platform currently owned by the Luxembourg company SLG (formerly Sales-Lentz Group). The parties involved did not disclose financial details. The Flibco name will, in any case, be retained after the takeover. […]
January 14, 2026
If global warming continues at its current pace, the most important global climate goal could be missed by the end of this decade. The European climate service Copernicus warns of this in an annual report. The last eleven years have been the warmest on record – an undeniable trend toward a warmer climate – the Copernicus […]
January 13, 2026
Fraudulent traffickers in Flanders are systematically stealing time slots for practical driving tests and then reselling them to people who want to pass their exam faster. The fraud was discovered by the consumer radio program WinWin. It remains unclear how the fraudsters operate. However, it involves a form of hacking in which hackers reserve time slots […]
January 12, 2026
Former Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten (Green) is leaving politics and becoming CEO of the green interest group WindEurope. Van der Straeten resigns from parliament and will start working at WindEurope on February 2nd. “Wind energy is crucial for the continent’s electricity supply, economic competitiveness, and climate goals. It provides Europe with affordable electricity, strengthens […]
January 12, 2026
New motorcycle registrations fell by 12.2% in 2025 (to 24,872 units) compared to 2024. However, 2024 was the best year of the past 15 years. The sector expects a strong start to 2026, thanks in part to the Brussels Auto Show, where nearly 20 motorcycle brands will be represented this year and at least 310 […]
January 10, 2026
Air quality in Beijing is better than ever. In 2025, the city reported more than 340 days of ‘good’ or ‘moderate’ air quality, attributable to strict emission regulations and the growing number of electric vehicles in Chinese cities. Heavy pollution days dropped from dozens per year in the early 2010s to almost zero. Over the […]
