April 12, 2022
At its first ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) Conference, Mercedes presented an ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions by more than half, Well to Wheel (WTW), being thus over the entire life cycle of each car, by the end of this decade. In addition, 70% of the energy used must be renewable. There needs to […]
April 08, 2022
The British government has revealed its new energy policy and strategy, given the recent events in the energy market and the Ukrainian war. The UK wants to accelerate nuclear power again, and besides pushing for more wind and solar power, it will also stay developing its fossil fuel winnings in the North Sea. At the […]
April 06, 2022
Up until corona times, aviation was the fastest-growing carbon polluter in the European Union. Still, it is one of the top receivers of free pollution permits relative to their emissions under the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS in short). The EU ETS is a cornerstone of the EU’s policy to combat climate change […]
April 05, 2022
The chance that global warming remains limited to 1,5 degrees Celsius has pretty well gone by unless the world comes up with far more ambitious plans to reduce CO2 emissions. That is the devastating conclusion of the latest IPCC report. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations earlier warned that the […]
April 04, 2022
The [email protected] project, the brainchild of BASF Antwerp and Air Liquide in the harbor of Antwerp for the capturing, transport, and storage of CO2 emissions in the empty gas field in the North Sea, will receive 356,9 million euros support from the European Innovation Fund (EIF). On Friday, the agreement for the subsidy was signed. […]
April 01, 2022
The Flemish Minister of Mobility, Lydia Peeters (Open Vld), rejects the idea of introducing a maximum speed limit of 100 km/hour on the highways. Yesterday, we wrote that Groen, Flanders’ green political party, had suggested introducing a temporary speed limit of 100 kph on the highways. The measure would improve safety, save money and fuel, […]
April 01, 2022
Two-thirds or 70% of Belgians are in favor of more sustainable mobility. Not surprisingly, the bicycle is the symbol of soft mobility for most Belgian road users. Plus: Belgians are mainly deterred from buying an electric car by the cost and the lack of charging stations. This is the conclusion of the first mobility barometer […]
March 31, 2022
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn has launched procedures to purchase hundreds of electric buses, possibly up to 1 250. It involves buses of all sizes, ranging from 8 to 24 meters in length. De Lijn confirmed this on Wednesday, following the European Tender Journal publications. De Lijn’s ambition is to make its fleet […]
March 25, 2022
According to Transport & Environment, the bioenergy sector burns every day a grain volume to the equivalent of 15 million loaves of bread to make ethanol for our fuels. The organization calls it immoral to continue driving on biofuels with grain prices skyrocketing. In stark contrast, the ethanol lobby claims this is the time to […]
March 24, 2022
According to the newspaper L’Echo, Euro 4 diesel cars driving inside the Brussels Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) won’t be fined until July. The newspaper reports that the official reason is new car delivery delays, but it also cites a computer bug at Brussels Taxation. Since January, Euro 4 diesel cars have been supposedly banned from the […]
March 23, 2022
A team of Belgian researchers is analyzing the effects of offshore wind farms on marine life. The nature reserve of the Princess Elisabeth Zone in the North Sea can only be used for energy production if the impact on plant and animal life is limited. The ‘EDEN 2000’ research project – ‘Exploring options for a […]
March 22, 2022
The US State of Washington has passed a bill banning the sale, purchase, and registration of new gasoline-powered vehicles of the model year 2030 or later. If it becomes law, Washington will phase out internal combustion vehicles five years earlier than other ‘leading’ states like, for example, California. The transportation package is called ‘Move Ahead […]
March 21, 2022
The International Energy Agency (IEA) warns of an oil crisis caused by the invasion in Ukraine and spurs governments to take action and consumers to change their behavior. It has presented a ten-point plan to cut oil use. Working from home, restrictions on access to city centers by car, cheaper public transportation, more carpooling, reduced […]
March 21, 2022
In general, the air quality in the Brussels region is better than expected. However, standards are still exceeded in the capital center and the vicinity of significant traffic axes. The results were obtained from CurieuzenAir, the most extensive air quality study of Brussels. As part of the CurieuzenAir project, air quality measurements were taken at 3 […]
March 18, 2022
Trucks that draw their electricity from overhead wires on the highway are a way to make road freight transport independent of fossil fuels. Interim results of a study by the Flemish Institute for Logistics (VIL) show that trucks under electric catenary are a “feasible and profitable climate solution”. Every euro invested in this climate solution […]
March 17, 2022
Until 30 June, buses on the E5 express line between Nivelles and Namur will be able to take non-folding bicycles from commuters, either in the loading space or on a bike rack installed at the back of the bus. This is a pilot experiment of the Walloon public transport service TEC, intended to evaluate the […]
March 16, 2022
Flemish Minister for Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen), has finally resigned to the idea of keeping the two youngest nuclear power plants open. The final decision will be made on Friday, but the war in Ukraine has reshuffled the cards thoroughly. On top of that, the green parties Groen and Ecolo would like to […]
March 15, 2022
The Flemish government will increase premiums for renovation, insulation, heat pumps, and renewable energy for this and next year. The budget will go up from 440 to 658 million euros, or 218 million euros more to subsidize heat pumps, solar boilers or insolation works at homes up to €25 000. The main goal is to […]
March 14, 2022
At a general assembly in Namur on Sunday, the 168 recommendations were presented of a special panel of sixty Walloon citizens, selected by lottery, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region by 55% at least. After fifteen meetings, this civic panel has concluded a report spanning over nine areas that were subsequently arranged according […]
March 11, 2022
What was deemed impossible until recently, has suddenly become a reality because of Putin’s war in Ukraine. According to an analysis by BloombergNEF grey – or polluting – hydrogen has become more expensive than its green alternative due to the critical rise in prices for fossil natural gas it is made from. In Europe, it […]
March 09, 2022
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new rules to slash air pollution from heavy-duty vehicles. The new standard mainly addresses nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and particulate matters (PM) and should come into effect for trucks and buses manufactured in 2027 and later. The last standards date from 20 years ago. The authorities plan to […]
March 09, 2022
According to a new International Energy Agency (IEA) report, global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2021 rose to the highest level ever. Increased use of coal was the main factor driving up global energy-related CO2 emissions. The Covid-19 pandemic had far-reaching impacts on energy demand in 2020, reducing global CO2 emissions by 5,2%. However, the world […]
March 08, 2022
Today, Transport & Environment (T&E), the European Federation for Transport and Environment, publishes its ‘Roadmap to climate-neutral aviation’. According to the organization, progress in technology and the lessons learned during the pandemic have shown a way to green aviation in Europe. To bring Europeʼs aviation industry in line with our climate goals, binding measures have […]
March 03, 2022
Airline Ryanair is going to expand its summer offer at Charleroi significantly. Twenty destinations will be added at Charleroi, announced Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary. These include Naples, Madeira, Sibiu, and Stockholm. Ryanair is thus flying to 121 destinations from Belgium, an absolute record, claims the low-cost carrier. The company is very optimistic and hopes […]
March 01, 2022
The impact of climate change is more severe than expected. All over the world. Even when global warming would stop at 1,5 degrees Celsius. That is the conclusion of the latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations. The climate experts say that extreme weather conditions, floodings, and forest […]
February 25, 2022
Most of the most prominent Belgian cities will still have a long way before achieving ‘clean, active, and shared mobility’. That is the conclusion of a study by the Clean Cities Campaign, a coalition of European regions. The study criticized the cities according to five criteria: traffic safety, air quality, local authorities’ measures (like low-emission […]
February 24, 2022
Polestar has signed intention agreements with some important suppliers to work on the carbon-neutral car (scheduled for 2030). At the same time, it calls upon other suppliers and interested parties to join the project. Some of the world’s leading automotive industry suppliers, namely SSAB, Hydro, ZF, ZKW, and Autoliv, are joining forces with the intent […]
February 23, 2022
Germany has joined France in opposition to banning all ICE cars (with an internal combustion engine) in Europe by 2035. On Monday, the German Transport Minister, Volker Wissing (FDP), has pleaded to study synthetic fuels as an alternative to use in ICE cars. The European Transport and Infrastructure Ministers and other representatives were united at […]
February 22, 2022
The Brussels City Council has given the go-ahead to the new circulation plan for the capital’s Pentagon by a large majority. The new circulation plan aims to reduce transit traffic in the busy downtown districts and give pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport space. The intention of the alderman for Mobility Bart Dhondt’s plan is to […]
February 21, 2022
According to figures from HR services company Acerta, the possibility of exchanging a company car for a mobility budget is still only used to a limited extent. Only one in two hundred employees (0,48%) eligible for the scheme opted for the mobility budget in the past year. However, this already represents a threefold increase compared […]
February 12, 2022
The US Army has unveiled a comprehensive climate strategy that includes building an electric vehicle fleet in the coming years. By 2027, the armed forces aim to decarbonize all non-tactical light vehicles before moving into more tactical terrain. By 2035, all non-tactical vehicles (NTVs) will be purely electric. The NTV fleet comprises sedans, station wagons, […]
February 07, 2022
Germany’s main railway operator, Deutsche Bahn, wants to completely ban the use of diesel for its locomotives by 2040. Its 3 000 diesel locomotives will be gradually switched to alternative fuels starting this year, CEO Richard Lutz said Sunday. The elimination of diesel fuels by 2040 comes on top of the switch to using 100% […]
February 07, 2022
King Philippe – Filip of Belgium – inaugurated the ‘hydrogen’ harbor of Duqm in the Sultanate of Oman. Belgian dredger DEME plans to install there a 150 km2 renewable energy platform with solar panels and wind farms to produce hydrogen and one of its derivates, ammonia. The infrastructure results from a cooperation between the Oman […]
February 04, 2022
Grid manager Elia doubts the recent ‘theoretical’ study by Antwerp University that warns for blackouts in case of a nuclear phase-out. The company says it will keep a careful watch on the security of supply. “Stop the madness,” MR president Georges-Lois Bouchez promptly reacted upon the announcement of the study. Mid-March, the government will finally […]
February 02, 2022
More than sixty percent of Belgians say they consider climate change when choosing a holiday destination, but a majority of them (56%) still plan to fly next summer. That is one of the things a recent climate survey by the European Investment Bank discovered. One other is that 63% of Belgian car buyers say they […]
February 02, 2022
Flemish Minister for Economy and Innovation, Hilde Crevits (CD&V), signed on Wednesday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Australia’s island state Tasmania to import green hydrogen or ammonia through the Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge. Belgium wants to become a ‘renewable energy import hub’ for Europe. Earlier, her federal colleague, Tinne Van der Straeten (Groen), […]
February 01, 2022
The 55 billion euros of fossil fuel subsidies handed out annually by EU governments threaten to derail the union’s ambitious climate plans, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) said on Monday. “Taxing energy can support efforts to combat climate change. But current tax levels do not reflect the extent to which different energy sources pollute,” […]
January 31, 2022
The big test of the hydrogen bus of the Brussels public transport company MIVB/STIB has been delayed. The first test runs were scheduled for September last year, but the test with passengers onboard has now been postponed for six months. “It will arrive on the network on 7 February,” says MIVB/STIB spokesperson Françoise Ledune. “The […]
January 27, 2022
Bentley’s first-ever Battery-Powered Electric Vehicle (BEV) will be developed and built in the UK, with the company committing to investing £2.5 billion in sustainability over the next ten years. It is also a critical step in the company’s Beyond100 strategy – the ground-breaking plan launched in 2020 that will ensure Bentley is exclusively electric and […]
January 20, 2022
Three-quarters of the advertisements for cars are still promoting vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE). That is the result of a Greenpeace survey looking at 686 online ads from Belgium’s seven most popular car brands. Almost half of the advertisements (49%) promote classic gasoline and diesel cars, just over one-fourth (27%) is eulogizing hybrids, […]
January 18, 2022
According to a YouGov survey, a large majority of people support stricter EU car emission rules for manufacturers to make cars as clean as possible. YouGov, commissioned by Transport & Environment (T&E), questioned more than 8 000 people from seven European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Roumania, and the Czech Republic. More than three-quarters […]
January 10, 2022
More than one million twenty-foot containers (TEU) have been transported on the Flemish waterways for the first time in a year. That is what De Vlaamse Waterweg, which exploits the navigable waterways in Flanders, has announced. The Albert Canal remains with 705 192 TEU shipped, the most crucial channel in Flanders in this respect. In […]
January 07, 2022
Airlines have no reason to fly planes empty in Europe to keep their airport slots. That is what ACI Europe, the association representing Europe’s airports, says, expressing dismay at the controversy that arose after Lufthansa said carrying out some 18 000 unnecessary flights just to keep its time slots. About 3 000 of these are […]
January 06, 2022
The Dutch government wants companies with a hundred employees or more to measure and report the emission levels of their staff. Employers will be forced to register how much CO2 their staff emits while traveling for the job or commuting. Having an overview of all these emission data and acting accordingly should finally lead to […]
January 03, 2022
According to a leaked out proposition, the European Commission wants to designate gas and nuclear energy ‘green’. “A permit for greenwashing,” environmental organization Greenpeace reacts. Also, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) criticizes the idea. Germany, closing just three of its nuclear plants in Brokdorf, Grohnde, and Gundremmingen, is also opposed. The proposition is part […]
December 31, 2021
New York City has announced that it has ordered 184 fully electric Ford Mustang Mach-Es for law enforcement and emergency response workers. It also approved the option to buy 250 Tesla Model 3 electric sedans. The purchase is in line with the greening plans of the city’s fleet. New York City plans to buy more […]
December 21, 2021
The Biden administration has adjusted the emission rules for cars softened during the Trump era. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the new guidelines on Monday. It wants the car manufacturers to be 5 to 10% better in their energy performance between 2023 and 2026. In a press release, EPA confirms that “these are […]
December 15, 2021
The EU Commission has presented a four-pillar Action Plan for a cleaner, greener, and smarter mobility on the cross-border transport network through Europe and its nine major corridors. That means shifting more passengers and freight to rail and inland waterways, the roll-out of charging points every 60 km along highways, hydrogen filling stations at 150 […]
December 14, 2021
The Italian Interministerial Committee for the Ecological Transition (CITE) has aligned itself with the EU Commission’s proposal to ban the sales of new cars with an internal combustion engine from 2035. For light commercial vehicles, this would be extended to 2040. A note from the Ministery for Ecological Transition specified it would apply to cars […]
December 13, 2021
Three additional Chinese carmakers, NIO, Xpeng, and Lynk & Co, have joined Volkswagen’s open CO2 Pool to help achieve the EU goals for 2021-2022. Those are set at a maximum of 95 g/km average CO2 output over the entire fleet of newly sold cars. The latter was published by Berlin-based EU industry market analyst Schmidt […]
December 09, 2021
According to electricity provider Engie Electrabel, it will be impossible to prolong the life span of the youngest nuclear power plants after 2025. That is what the French energy provider has written in a letter sent on December 7th to the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. The letter is in line with the explanation […]
December 07, 2021
A study by PwC for the European association of automotive suppliers (CLEPA) shows that the actual electrification policy can cost up to half a million jobs in Europe. The association urgently calls for accompanying measures to attenuate the consequences. “There’s certainly a risk if we are focusing exclusively on electric vehicles,” says Sigrid de Vries, […]
December 07, 2021
Synthetic fuels or so-called e-fuels made out of green hydrogen and captured CO2 might be a short-term solution to extend the life of existing internal combustion engines (ICE) and make them quasi CO2-neutral. Still, it won’t solve the air pollution problem. Especially NOx and particles that cause serious health problems remain a significant problem. The […]
December 03, 2021
Toyota’s idea of our electric future is not just about battery-electric cars. That was the bottom line of the Kenshiki (translated as ‘Insight’) forum held in Brussels on Thursday. The brand showcased the new production model Corolla Cross Hybrid, some European premieres, and further outlined its path toward carbon-neutrality in Europe by 2035. Alongside the […]
December 03, 2021
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn has ordered 60 electric buses from Van Hool and VDL, the best bidders in the public tendering procedure. The purchase is part of De Lijn’s long-awaited greening program, with an emission-free fleet and infrastructure by 2035 as the goal. The buses will be delivered from the last quarter […]
December 02, 2021
Residents of Utrecht (the Netherlands) can obtain subsidies for the removal of their wood-burning stoves and open fireplaces or disable them. Those who are willing to stop burning wood can get a subsidy of up to 2 000 euros. It’s a measure the city takes to reduce air pollution in residential areas. Many people love […]
December 02, 2021
Renewable electricity growth is accelerating faster than ever worldwide. And solar and wind energy production is expected to reach an all-time record by the end of this year. However, the capacity is still insufficient for the world to become CO2 neutral by 2050. That is what the International Energy Agency (IEA) says in its recent […]
November 26, 2021
On Thursday, the Brussels government approved a decree that should help Brussels companies make their company car fleets greener. This will simplify the rules for obtaining the premium and make it accessible to a more significant number of entrepreneurs. Specifically, the Brussels government is releasing 6 million euros for three years. Also, the rules for […]
November 26, 2021
On Thursday, November 25th, Brussels Airport has officially launched Stargate. In the next five years, Stargate, a consortium of 22 partners, will work out several projects aiming at greener aviation and making European airports more sustainable. The Stargate project will receive €24,8 million subsidies within the European Green Deal. The partners of the consortium will […]
November 25, 2021
On Wednesday, Germany’s new so-called traffic light coalition (Ampel Koalition) presented the new coalition agreement. This still has to be confirmed by the party members but is considered a formality. The new Chancellor will be Olaf Scholz (SPD), and he declared that the new coalition would have a pioneering role to lead the country into […]
