May 21, 2026
New research in the magazine Nature Communications identifies what climate scientists call a “cascading positive tipping point” in certain EV markets. Europe and China are now past a decisive threshold. Their shift away from combustion-engined cars has become self-propelling. A research team at the University of Exeter has published what may be one of the […]
May 19, 2026
Germany has launched applications for its new electrified vehicle subsidy program. Backed by a €3 billion budget, the scheme aims to support around 800,000 battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and range extenders by 2029 through income-based grants of up to €6,000. Germany has officially opened applications for its new electric vehicle subsidy scheme after the program […]
May 15, 2026
The delay in developing additional offshore wind turbines in the Princess Elisabeth Zone (PEZ), an area in the North Sea where new wind farms are planned, will be reflected in the electricity bills of families and businesses. According to the researchers, the delay would be at least five years. The offshore island is a complex […]
May 12, 2026
Bike courier company Cargo Velo is acquiring its Antwerp-based competitor, De Fietskoerier. Together, they will form Belgium’s largest bike courier company, with around 50 couriers and an expected turnover of more than one million euros. Former politician Willem-Frederik Schiltz, who once led the Open Vld party in Antwerp, has been the CEO of Cargo Velo […]
May 12, 2026
American company LanzaTech has chosen North Sea Port in Ghent as the site for its first European plant to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using alcohol-to-jet technology. The project involves an investment of 500 million euros. The plant is expected to create 50 permanent jobs, in addition to approximately 300 jobs during the three-year construction […]
May 06, 2026
A total of 104,298 people living in the wider vicinity of Brussels Airport have their sleep severely disrupted by aircraft taking off and landing. This is according to the annual, mandatory study on the airport’s noise impact conducted by the Dutch firm To70. That represents a 2,5% increase compared to 2024. And whether by coincidence […]
May 06, 2026
Emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, remain very high. The International Environment Agency (IEA) reported this on Monday during an international meeting in Paris, where its annual Global Methane Tracker report was presented. In 2025, record production from the fossil fuel sector (oil, coal, gas) was responsible for 35% of […]
May 05, 2026
The Belgian government wants to regain full control over energy policy and has secured a purchase option on Engie’s Belgian nuclear operations. Although the decision, a historic shift following the nuclear phase-out under the Verhofstadt 1 government, is generally welcomed, criticism is also growing. The costs remain a major question mark – even Prime Minister […]
May 04, 2026
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations scraps its gloomiest forecast: 4 to 6 degrees of global warming by 2100. The doomsday scenarios and ominous media reports about the future of the climate prove too bleak. Extreme global warming is not expected to progress that quickly, and the gloomy forecasts of sea […]
May 01, 2026
The ‘mobility budget’ system must be simplified before it becomes mandatory. That is what the social partners think. “Today, it is still far too complex,” they say. The mobility budget is a system that allows employees to exchange their company car for a budget they can spend on various ‘greener’ mobility solutions, such as a smaller […]
April 29, 2026
The European State of the Climate 2025, a weighty annual report by the EU, confirms once again that Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world. 2025 was extremely warm almost everywhere, and about 95% of Europe had above-average temperatures. Even near the Arctic Circle, temperatures exceeded 30°C. The average temperature on Earth is now […]
April 28, 2026
Flemish Minister of the Environment, Jo Brouns (CD&V), has granted grid operator Elia an environmental permit for the long-awaited Ventilus project, he announced on Monday. The wind energy sector and environmental organizations are relieved; action groups and companies along the route are disappointed. “Minister Brouns is completely disregarding 3,000 objections,” opponents say. New high-voltage line Ventilus […]
April 28, 2026
For the first time, fully electric cars have become the largest group within Belgium’s company car fleet—and the shift is happening significantly faster than in neighboring countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and France. New data from the National Social Security Office (RSZ) show that electric vehicles accounted for 37.2% of all salary cars in […]
April 23, 2026
Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s largest, has opened a new, third terminal. The first flight from the new terminal is expected today. Terminal 3 will be able to handle up to 19 million passengers per year. The terminal features three new piers totaling 1,400 meters in length, at least 33 aircraft parking positions, 112 check-in counters, and […]
April 17, 2026
A group of 31 European NGOs, including Oxfam, WWF, CAN Europe, and T&E, has called on the EU to tax excess oil profits to support Europeans in the crisis. In a letter, the NGOs, which represent more than 40 million citizens across more than 2,000 member organizations, call for funds to be targeted to shield […]
April 17, 2026
In France, old, polluting cars are once again allowed to drive in the city center. After all, the French parliament has decided to abolish the environmental sticker and low-emission zones – measures intended to reduce pollution in cities. The ‘zones à faibles émissions’ (ZFE), as they are called in France, were introduced in 2021 with […]
April 17, 2026
The Regional Environmental Permit Commission (Gewestelijke OmgevingsVergunningsCommissie, GOVC) has issued favorable opinions – although conditional – for the permits for the Ventilus high-voltage line. It is the final step before the decision by Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns (CD&V). Ventilus is the high-voltage line that Elia, Belgium’s high-voltage grid operator, plans to lay through West Flanders […]
April 16, 2026
The 1,000th electric bus is entering service in Flanders’ public transport system. “A milestone in the transition to greener transport,” is how it’s described. Of those 1,000 e-buses, more than 700 are operated by private bus companies contracted by De Lijn. De Lijn itself currently has nearly 300 e-buses on the road. However, the public […]
April 15, 2026
The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rijkswaterstaat, is starting an experiment with 24 ‘plant-based’ traffic signs along the A58 near Oirschot. Rijkswaterstaat wants to test whether these so-called ‘bio-signs’ can be an alternative to the existing aluminum traffic signs. The signboards are made from hemp, sugar waste, and vegetable oil. Real outdoor conditions The […]
April 15, 2026
According to the NGO Transport & Environment (T&E), the latest demands of the European car industry for weaker climate targets could result in an extra €74bn of oil imports, “just as interest in buying EVs reaches new peaks”.That’s according to T&E analysis of a leaked position paper issued by the Association of European Car Manufacturers […]
April 14, 2026
What had been in the works for a while has now become official: Brussels Airport Ombudsman Philippe Touwaide has been fired. Touwaide had come under fire for his lack of neutrality and his personal conduct toward the airport’s top management. The dismissal comes as no surprise. The Federal Public Service Mobility has recommended Touwaide’s dismissal […]
April 14, 2026
The Belgian entrepreneur Jasper Deprez wants to bring solar energy from space to Earth with his start-up TerraSpark. The reason was a personal and unpleasant experience. During the Great Spanish Blackout of 2025, Deprez, who lives near Barcelona, was without power for almost a week, and by his own account, it was hell, especially as a […]
April 13, 2026
On Sunday, Belgium reached its Overshoot Day. This means that if all countries in the world followed the Belgian consumption pattern, all the natural resources the planet could supply in one year would already be used up. We would then need 3.6 Earths. Every year, Global Footprint Network calculates Earth Overshoot Day: the date on which humanity […]
April 09, 2026
Offshore energy solutions company Jan De Nul has launched a new next-level high-performance vessel: the William Thomson, one of two identical subsea cable‑laying vessels currently under construction. Both vessels have a cargo capacity of 28,000 tons and a length of 215 meters. “This makes them the largest, most efficient, and highest-performing cable-laying vessels of their […]
April 09, 2026
The difference between day and night temperatures – scientists call it ‘the diurnal temperature range’ – in spring is growing, and that is not good news, scientists say. And the trend is confirmed by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). In the past, nighttime temperatures increased faster than daytime temperatures, so […]
April 07, 2026
From January 11 to 22, 2027, the first ‘Ocean COP’ will take place, the first formal meeting of states that have ratified the groundbreaking treaty for the protection of the High Seas. The High Seas Treaty, as the meeting is officially called, will be held at the UN headquarters in New York. This treaty governs […]
April 07, 2026
Is the Brussels saga surrounding the Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) finally coming to an end? The Brussels government has finally set a schedule for the new LEZ fines system. If the technical obstacles are resolved, the imposition of LEZ fines should begin on June 7. Euro 5 diesel vehicles and Euro 2 gasoline vehicles, which in […]
April 02, 2026
The European Commission wants to limit high energy costs for heavy industry by lowering the price European companies pay to Brussels for their CO2 emissions. It would give entrepreneurs more financial breathing room in times of high energy prices and geopolitical unrest. A growing number of countries, including Poland and Italy, have been pushing for […]
April 02, 2026
The Société Wallone des Aéroports (SOWAER) has appointed a new manager for Cerfontaine airfield, located in the province of Namur. The new manager aims to make the site more environmentally friendly, in part by using an electric aircraft for the skydiving school operating there. However, it’s not that simple: Fully electric aircraft specifically designed for […]
April 01, 2026
On Tuesday, Colruyt’s online grocery service Collect&Go launched an innovative home delivery service in Leuven using an unmanned electric vehicle. The project began as a pilot earlier. The launch is part of the broader development of sustainable and efficient urban logistics. The vehicle is – for the time being – remotely controlled and monitored via […]
March 30, 2026
The Port of Brussels is launching an interactive map to facilitate the transport of construction materials via waterways. The tool is primarily aimed at large shipments exceeding 1,000 tons. The interactive map mainly targets companies active in the construction sector, logistics, and large urban construction sites that wish to reduce their carbon footprint, as the […]
March 30, 2026
Pieter De Crem (CD&V) was appointed chairman of high-voltage group Elia in February. This is stated in the company’s annual report. He succeeds Geert Versnick, who passed away last November. De Crem has been a member of the board of directors of the high-voltage group since 2021. He has also been appointed chairman of Elia […]
March 30, 2026
It appears that, as of April 1, you are still safe for the time being from the automatic €350 fine for drivers entering the Brussels Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) in a Euro 5 diesel or Euro 2 gasoline vehicle. Even though your vehicle is officially banned, no fines will be issued for the vehicles in question […]
March 30, 2026
Last week, we reported that a gigantic white hydrogen bubble had been found, presumably extending across the subsurface beneath France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium. There would be an estimated 34 million tons of soil, equivalent to 14 years of Belgium’s electricity consumption. Natural hydrogen fields are rare but highly useful to the industry. Scientists suspect […]
March 27, 2026
The BMW Group is taking a decisive next step in its industrial transformation by announcing a new “Competence Centre Circularity” at its Wackersdorf site in Germany. The company plans to invest a mid-three-digit million euro amount in the project, which is scheduled to be fully operational by around 2029. Once completed, the facility will significantly […]
March 26, 2026
On March 25th, 2026, the Belgian-based dredging company DEME celebrated the naming of its next-generation wind turbine installation vessel ‘Norse Wind’. The celebration, which was held at the Port of Oslo, marks a significant addition to DEME’s offshore installation fleet. Prior to the naming ceremony, DEME was honored to welcome Their Majesties the King and the […]
March 26, 2026
Germany’s Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has unveiled the Climate Protection Program 2026. The government’s joint plan sets out strategic decisions to achieve climate neutrality, including measures to expand electric mobility. Germany is legally committed to achieving greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045. Under the Federal Climate Protection Act, emissions must be cut by at least 65% […]
March 25, 2026
In Pontpierre, near Metz, in northeastern France, hydrogen has been tapped in its natural form. Drilling to a depth of more than 3,600 meters has now confirmed the presence of a significant amount. The white hydrogen bubble was discovered three years ago, but has only now been tapped. The hydrogen bubble is said to extend into […]
March 24, 2026
The electric vehicle recycling chain faces a problem that rarely makes headlines: safely breaking a complex, high-voltage electric drivetrain apart before any actual recycling can begin. Luxembourg-based start-up R3 Robotics, formerly known as Circu Li-ion, has just made that problem its entire identity. The company announced a formal rebranding alongside a €20 million fundraising. But […]
March 24, 2026
Thibault Danthine, the man behind the innovative electric carriages in Brussels, is now also launching sustainable, electric tourist carriage rides in Antwerp. According to the Gazet van Antwerpen, Danthine is starting with two carriages in Antwerp, and, as in the capital, they will be stationed on the Grand Place. For the welfare of the horses and […]
March 24, 2026
The French energy company TotalEnergies is canceling two major offshore wind projects in the United States. In return, the company is receiving almost $1 billion from the US government, provided that the funds are reinvested in fossil fuel projects in the country. The world upside down? The Donald Trump administration and TotalEnergies announced the deal […]
March 23, 2026
The PSA terminal in Zeebrugge, a major port and logistics terminal on the Belgian coast specializing primarily in forest and paper products, now derives half of its energy from solar panels. The nearly 1,900 panels are mounted vertically on the facade of the company’s warehouse, as the roof is not suitable for solar panels. The solar […]
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
No ruling has yet been issued in the climate lawsuit filed by Hainaut farmer Hugues Falys against French oil giant TotalEnergies. The Commercial Court of Tournai has postponed the ‘Farmer Case’ until September 9. The court wishes to await the ruling in a Paris court case, which is expected on June 25. TotalEnergies is accused […]
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 18, 2026
By 2050, global demand for air travel will more than double, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Growth will be concentrated primarily in emerging markets, such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America, while demand will rise less sharply in Europe and the Americas. However, without a radical breakthrough in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) […]
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
Air quality in Brussels has not improved between 2023 and 2025. This is evident from measurements taken by the BRAL urban movement, with support from Brussels Environment, as part of the ExpAIR campaign. What’s more, annual nitrogen dioxide concentrations even rose slightly at the 24 measuring stations. According to BRAL’s ExpAIR report, this result is partly […]
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 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
The first plots of land belonging to the bankrupt bus manufacturer Van Hool in Koningshooikt, Lier, are up for sale. Interested parties can purchase 30 hectares of industrial land via the Biddit website. Bidding starts on June 8, with a starting price of 20 million euros. The question is whether there will be a single […]
March 04, 2026
Until now, the European CO₂ pool centered on Tesla has been a major conglomerate of automakers, including Ford, Mazda, Honda, Toyota, and Stellantis. However, for 2026, two major manufacturers, Toyota and Stellantis, may withdraw from this pool, two of Tesla’s largest financial contributors to this scheme. At the EU level, manufacturers can join so-called CO₂ […]
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 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 24, 2026
From July 1, CO2 emissions from vehicles will be taken into account when calculating the kilometer charge for trucks in Flanders. The more environmentally friendly the truck, the lower the rate. This has been announced by Viapass, the body that coordinates the kilometer charge in Belgium. This rate change aligns with European requirements and aims […]
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 […]
