November 21, 2025
Ghent ranks third in the Copenhagenize Index of the world’s most bicycle-friendly cities, after Utrecht and Copenhagen. The index is compiled every two years by the Danish consultancy Copenhagenize Desing Co., an agency specializing in bicycle strategy, urban planning, and mobility, and is considered an international benchmark. Antwerp ranks eighth. Brussels, the only other Belgian […]
November 20, 2025
The trial of Hugues Falys, a farmer from Hainaut, against TotalEnergies has begun before the Commercial Court of Tournai. At the beginning of 2024, with the support of Greenpeace and others, the farmer sued the French multinational for his role in climate change. The first climate case brought by a citizen against a multinational in […]
November 19, 2025
On Tuesday evening, Belgium and Brazil signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the sidelines of the reception for the Belgian delegation at the UN climate summit COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on cooperation in green hydrogen. Green hydrogen, generated in Brazil, will flow to Belgium in the future, and Belgium will, in turn, use its know-how […]
November 19, 2025
Belgium ranks 37th on the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), the annual ranking of climate performance by environmental NGOs. This means the country has dropped two places compared to last year. The CCPI evaluates the climate‐mitigation performance of 63 countries plus the European Union (EU) — together covering more than 90 % of global greenhouse […]
November 18, 2025
The city of Antwerp has drawn up its first specific ‘pedestrian program’. The program aims to increase the number of journeys made on foot. The program is an important part of the desired ‘modal shift’, in which journeys by private car are replaced as much as possible by more sustainable alternatives. Because “if we make […]
November 17, 2025
Toyota Motor Corporation said last week it will invest up to $10 billion in the United States over the next five years, as the Japanese automaker ramps up battery production for hybrid and electric vehicles. The announcement was made as Toyota, the world’s largest automaker by volume, opened its first overseas plant dedicated to battery […]
November 14, 2025
In July 2026, the students of the Innoptus Solar Team (KU Leuven) will travel to the United States to participate in the American Solar Challenge. After a strong performance and third place in Australia in August 2025, the Belgian team wants to showcase Belgian innovation in America. For the first time, the Belgians are participating in […]
November 14, 2025
The European Parliament on Thursday backed a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels, broadly aligning with the position agreed earlier by EU member states. 379 MEPs voted in favor, 248 against. The 2040 target is now legally enshrined as an intermediate step towards 2050, when the EU […]
November 14, 2025
A new study by the French Institut Mobilités en Transition (IMT) casts fresh doubt on the future of plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), arguing that prolonging their sale in Europe beyond 2035 would harm both household budgets and the continent’s climate ambitions. The study finds that for buyers of new vehicles, plug-in hybrids cost about 7% […]
November 14, 2025
The Flemish and Walloon governments reached an agreement at the beginning of this month with some of the largest CO2 emitters in Belgian industry on the capture, storage, and transport of carbon dioxide, also known as CCUS. The agreement was signed yesterday at building materials manufacturer Holcim in Obourg, near Mons, by Flemish Minister-President Matthias […]
November 13, 2025
Electricity will become an increasingly important energy source over the next ten years, according to the International Energy Agency. The agency expects electricity demand to grow by at least 40 percent between now and 2035. We will use more and more electricity for air conditioning, industry, electric mobility, data centers, and electric heating. The switch […]
November 12, 2025
If current trends continue, the demand for air conditioning could triple by 2050. This is the warning from the Global Cooling Watch 2050 study, published by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on the sidelines of COP30, the UN climate summit that started on Monday in Belem, Brazil. The increase is thought to be due to population […]
November 11, 2025
Twenty-one European airlines have committed to stop making claims in relation to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions deemed misleading, the European Commission said on Friday. The airlines include some of the largest in Europe, such as Lufthansa (parent company of Brussels Airlines), Ryanair, KLM, and Air France. In May, the Belgian Federal Public Service Economy’s economic inspectorate, […]
November 11, 2025
A new hydrogen filling station for ships was officially inaugurated in the port of Ostend on Friday. Jera Nex BP developed the hydrogen filling station, and in the initial phase, only one ship will use it: the Windcat 48, which uses green hydrogen to sail from the port of Ostend to a wind farm in the […]
November 07, 2025
Upway, which claims to be the global market leader in refurbished e-bikes, has just raised $60 million in funding to give new life to 1 million e-bikes by 2030. This brings the total funding raised since its founding in 2021 to more than $125 million. The company’s business model is simple: Upway buys used e-bikes, refurbishes them […]
November 06, 2025
On the eve of the UN climate summit in Brazil, the EU climate ministers reached an agreement on a 2040 climate target on Wednesday morning. The EU member states have agreed to the European Commission’s proposal to reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent by 2040 compared to 1990. However, the agreement has been weakened in several areas. […]
November 05, 2025
In March, the Mobility Committee of the Brussels Parliament already reached a consensus: Villo!, the public bike-sharing system, is underperforming and urgently needs to be replaced. A new report by the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis (IBSA) now confirms this negative trend. Between 2018 and 2024, Villo! rented out no less than 40,2% fewer […]
November 05, 2025
The EU has been revising its CO2 regulations for companies for some time now, and many companies fear an early combustion engine ban through the back door. The Commission is expected to present its plans in mid-December. According to the German specialized magazine Automobilwoche, citing industrial sources, the EU Commission intends to present its plans […]
November 03, 2025
Thanks to the Paris Climate Agreement, our planet is no longer heading toward a catastrophic 4 degrees of warming, but is still facing an additional 2.6 degrees Celsius. That is what climate specialists from the World Weather Attribution and Climate Central have calculated. Ten years ago, the Paris Climate Agreement was signed. World leaders pledged […]
October 31, 2025
“The United Nations’ Green Climate Fund (GCF) has had a record year in terms of approving projects in countries vulnerable to climate change, thanks in part to reforms that have reduced bureaucratic hurdles,” said its Executive Director, Mafalda Duarte, in an interview with AFP. GCF, founded in 2015 and based in Songdo (South Korea), is the […]
October 30, 2025
After more than ten years of research and fine-tuning of its pilot plant in Istanbul, Turkish SynPet Technologies has chosen the Port of Antwerp to build its first large-scale plastic recycling plant. The project will represent a 300-million-euro investment. If all goes according to plan, the plant will be operational in 2028 and will process […]
October 30, 2025
The Flemish public transport company De Lijn continues to rack up fines for violations of the low-emission zone (LEZ). In the first six months of this year, it has already paid almost 150,000 euros in fines, more than double the total spent in 2024. De Lijn will also have to pay LEZ fines next year. After […]
October 30, 2025
According to the American billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates, global warming “is not going to lead to the disappearance of humanity”. While climate change will have “serious consequences, particularly for people in the poorest countries, […] people will be able to live and prosper on most of the planet in the near future,” writes Bill […]
October 29, 2025
The lack of action on climate change claims millions of lives every year and puts health care systems under strain. “The climate crisis has become a health crisis,” states the latest Lancet Countdown report, published today in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Lancet researchers have found that 12 of 20 key indicators tracking […]
October 28, 2025
The Council of State is very critical of the Flemish plans to abolish the tightening of low-emission zones from 2026. According to the Council’s advice, which Belga was able to view, the intervention entails a “significant deterioration” in health and the environment. The original plan was to further tighten the rules from 2026 onward, meaning that owners […]
October 24, 2025
On Sunday, we will switch back to winter time. Clocks will be turned back one hour, extending the night by one hour and giving us an extra hour of sleep. Unfortunately, it also means that it will get dark earlier in the evening, and that there will be more pedestrian accidents after the time switch. Vias […]
October 23, 2025
Despite the high cost, Belgian urban families are increasingly opting for cargo bikes. According to figures from the mobility federation Traxio, sales in Belgium have skyrocketed over the past two years, rising by more than 66%, from 9,585 units in 2022 to 15,246 in 2024. The success of the cargo or longtail bike for the […]
October 23, 2025
Michael Jost, former head of VW Group’s product strategy, recently addressed the car industry, policymakers, and the general public at the E4Testival in Germany. His message was clear: “There is no alternative for electromobility and the so-called technology openness is an illusion.” His discourse was titled “Electrify the world – think bigger.” He asked his […]
October 22, 2025
The European Commission will propose measures to mitigate the impact of its new carbon tax on citizens and businesses. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to alleviate fears of price increases and provide Member States with resources to support families by adjusting the implementation of the CO2 tax. The aim is to save the […]
October 22, 2025
Criticized by some and cherished by others, the low-emission zone (LEZ) in Brussels is having the desired effect, according to the annual evaluation by Brussels Environment. The LEZ is leading to faster fleet renewal and better air quality in the Brussels-Capital Region. An average of 360,000 unique vehicles drive in the LEZ every day. Just […]
October 21, 2025
Belgian victims of the Dieselgate scandal who still want to file a claim for €1,000 in compensation need to hurry, because the deadline of Sunday, October 26th, is fast approaching. However, the victims themselves do not seem to be losing any sleep over it. According to the newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, only 2,400 Belgians have […]
October 21, 2025
“Nissan intends to CO₂-pool with BYD across the EU during 2025 to meet more challenging emissions targets.” That’s what Schmidt Automotive Research, a UK-established, Germany-based independent consultancy and publishing firm that specializes in the automotive market, predicts. However, neither Nissan nor BYD has confirmed this so far. Nissan’s intention to pool its European fleet CO₂ […]
October 21, 2025
Volvo Cars is offering Swedish car buyers one year of free home charging with the launch of its free charge initiative. Volvo Cars is partnering with Swedish energy company Vattenfall to introduce this offer, which aims to make the switch to fully electric cars more attractive and accessible for more customers. Insights from the first […]
October 20, 2025
The EU-funded research project ‘Efferest’ aims to make electric vehicles more efficient, focusing specifically on the interaction between systems and components that manage interior comfort and powertrain performance. The project targets significant improvements in cabin comfort and drivetrain systems by the end of 2026. Considering both together ensures a holistic approach, allowing technical compromises to […]
October 20, 2025
The vote on a carbon tax for international shipping, known as the Net-Zero Framework (NZF), has been postponed for a year. This was decided on Friday in London by the member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the maritime branch of the United Nations. The postponement comes under pressure from US President Donald Trump. […]
October 16, 2025
The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere increased by a record amount in 2024, potentially further warming the planet and leading to more extreme climate events. The concentration of greenhouse gases in the air increased by 3.5 ppm (parts per million) between 2023 and 2024 – the highest increase since modern measurements began in 1957. […]
October 16, 2025
The EU car industry wants plug-in hybrid vehicles to be considered carbon neutral, but data from thousands of vehicles shows that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO2 per km, on average, than petrol and diesel cars. Carmakers are lobbying and asking EU lawmakers to treat hybrids as clean vehicles under a ‘technology-neutral’ approach to decarbonizing […]
October 15, 2025
Work on extending the Ecluse steam network from the left to the right bank of the Scheldt has reached a significant milestone. On Tuesday, October 14th, Flemish Minister for Energy and Climate Melissa Depraetere visited the site to inaugurate this technical achievement. The Ecluse tunnel under the Scheldt River, the longest microtunnel in Belgium, transports […]
October 14, 2025
The High Court in London has opened one of the most attention-grabbing consumer trials in recent years. Five car manufacturers are accused of deceiving millions of drivers by installing defeat devices to cheat pollution tests. The case, expected to run for three months, revives the scandal that has haunted the industry for a decade. Billions of […]
October 13, 2025
The United States is threatening sanctions if the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations’ maritime branch, votes this week in London to adopt the Net-Zero Framework definitively. This framework aims to make shipping greener through a carbon tax. Sixty-three countries have already expressed their support for the plan, including Belgium. Sixteen countries, including Russia […]
October 13, 2025
The death of coral reefs marks the first catastrophic climate tipping point linked to greenhouse gas emissions. “Unless global heating is reduced to 1.2 degrees Celsius ‘as fast as possible’, warm water coral reefs will not remain ‘at any meaningful scale’,” the Global Tipping Points Report by 160 scientists across 87 institutions from 23 countries […]
October 10, 2025
The head of Lufthansa does not believe the aviation sector will achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. CEO Carsten Spohr attributes this to the slow development of technology and the increased availability of more sustainable aircraft fuels. The Lufthansa Group has set itself ambitious climate protection goals. The company aims to achieve a neutral CO2 […]
October 10, 2025
The listed energy company EnergyVision wants to invest more in wind turbines to complement its solar panels. EnergyVision is a Belgian energy company that supplies 100% green, locally produced electricity, primarily from solar installations installed for households and businesses in Belgium. In addition to solar panels and EV charging solutions, EnergyVision is now testing small rooftop wind […]
October 09, 2025
Global biofuels emit 16% more CO2 than the fossil fuels they replace, due to the indirect impacts of farming and deforestation, a new Cerulogy report on behalf of T&E shows. By 2030, biofuels are projected to emit 70 Mt CO₂e more than the fossil fuels they replace, equivalent to the annual emissions of almost 30 […]
October 09, 2025
The car industry is demanding loopholes in the EU car CO2 law that would halve the bloc’s ambition of selling only zero-emission cars in 2035. That’s according to T&E analysis of a leaked position paper by the European car industry lobby ACEA. Carmakers are demanding more than 10 loopholes, including counting cars that run on alternative […]
October 08, 2025
There will be no evaluation of the low-emission zone (LEZ) in Ghent for the time being. This is according to Filip Watteeuw (Groen), alderman for Climate and Environment, among others. According to Watteeuw, there is currently too much legal uncertainty, which means that the city cannot and will not decide to evaluate the LEZ and make […]
October 08, 2025
According to the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), growth in renewable energy is slowing due to policy changes in the United States and China. In its Renewables 2025 report, the IEA has lowered its projection for global renewable capacity additions in 2025–2030 by approximately 248 GW, or roughly 5%, compared to its 2024 outlook. In the […]
October 07, 2025
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, declared yesterday that he wants the EU Commission to abolish the EU ban on the sale of ICE cars after 2035. “I don’t wish Germany to be one of the countries supporting this bad interdiction,” he said on the TV channel NTV. The pressure of big German car companies like […]
October 07, 2025
After more than a year of delays, the Belgian federal government and the regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and the Brussels-Capital Region have finalized the approval of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NEKP). At the same time, an agreement has also been reached on the distribution of funds from the European Social Climate Fund. Maron: […]
October 03, 2025
Last Tuesday, Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, officially opened the BMW Group plant in Debrecen. The BMW Group’s newest and most innovative production site marks the beginning of a new era for the company. Meanwhile, BMW Group Plant Leipzig is planning a hydrogen pipeline link, paving the way for […]
October 03, 2025
Dutch construction giant Heijmans has launched what it claims to be Europe’s first autonomous electric road roller. The prototype must help tackle labour shortages and cut emissions on infrastructure projects. Heijmans is one of the Netherlands’ biggest construction firms. As part of tightening tender rules, it has been steadily preparing its heavy-duty equipment for zero-emission operations, primarily […]
October 01, 2025
Starting today, Belgian postal company Bpost will deliver its parcels and mail in the 19 municipalities of Brussels completely emission-free. According to Bpost, this makes the capital the first European metropolis where postal workers make their daily rounds completely emission-free. 565 electric delivery vans and 57 electric bicycles with trailers make 728 rounds every day, […]
September 30, 2025
Four in a row, because after the Doel 3, Tihange 2, and Doel 1 nuclear reactors were permanently shut down earlier, on Monday night, the plug will also be pulled on Tihange 1. The nuclear reactor has been in service for 50 years, although the Belgian government hopes that this is not the end of […]
September 30, 2025
France is launching a new round of its social leasing plan for the purchase of electric cars, aimed at lower-income households. The system was also launched last year, but was suspended after about six weeks because the budget was quickly exhausted as the number of validated orders was much higher than expected. For this year, […]
September 29, 2025
Two Brussels mothers have launched WeCar.mobi, a free carpooling platform designed to make life a lot easier for parents. The platform enables you to coordinate carpooling for private groups, such as after-school activities, birthday parties, or sports matches, while also reducing your individual carbon footprint by sharing rides. Arranging transportation for your children to school and […]
September 29, 2025
Anyone in Belgium who charges their electric company car at home will receive reimbursement from their employer for the charging costs. Since January, a flat-rate amount has been applied because the actual price is virtually impossible to calculate. This flat rate, which reimburses the cost of charging electric company cars at home, will decrease from […]
September 29, 2025
Last week, BMW was one of the few major carmakers present at Climate Week NYC, attempting to convince the audience of the automotive industry’s efforts toward a sustainable future by spotlighting its Neue Klasse iX3 as a milestone in circularity, efficiency, and lifecycle CO2 reduction. At the same time, on the opposite side of New […]
September 26, 2025
China announced on Wednesday at the United Nations climate summit that it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7 to 10 percent by 2035, a figure the European Union considers insufficient. It was Chinese President Xi Jinping who presented the climate goals during a video address. It is the first time that China, currently the world’s […]
September 25, 2025
The Dieselgate ‘nightmare’ continues to haunt Volkswagen. Disadvantaged Volkswagen customers in France can still claim compensation five years after being informed that cheating software had been installed in their cars. This was ruled by the Court of Cassation, France’s highest Court. Previously, the limitation period for civil lawsuits related to the Dieselgate scandal was five […]
September 25, 2025
According to a 2025 report from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research (PIK), ocean acidification has now exceeded a safe boundary for ecosystems. It is the first time it is placed in the ‘danger zone’. This also means that seven out of the nine ‘planetary boundaries’ have now been crossed. This concept of ‘planetary boundaries’ […]
