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 gas (GHG) emissions. The evaluation is based on four categories: 1) greenhouse gas emissions, 2) renewable energy, 3) energy use/efficiency, and 4) climate policy.
Challenges
Across the four categories considered in the evaluation, Belgium scores ‘average’ for greenhouse gas emissions. In the other categories—renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy—the country scores decidedly low.
Currently, Belgium aims for a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, while the European Union targets 47%. Environmental NGOs are calling for the development of a National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) that aligns with European ambitions.
Below the EU average ranking
The challenges highlighted are: better coordination between different levels of government, a comprehensive adaptation & resilience plan, and a more precise fossil-fuel phase-out timeline.
Belgium is performing moderately but has significant room for improvement. The country is below the EU-average and behind many of the higher-performing European nations. It is in the middle tier rather than the front-runners. The fact that Belgium’s 2030 target is less ambitious than the EU’s (42% vs. ~47%) is a relative shortcoming.
Climate skeptic Trump
However, the United States has even fallen seven places. Under the administration of climate skeptic Donald Trump, the United States has slipped to 65th place, third-to-last. Only Iran and Saudi Arabia rank lower.
As always, the top three spots in the ranking remain empty, as no country can demonstrate climate performance in line with the Paris Agreement. Denmark, in fourth place, has the best score for the fifth year running.
It is followed by the United Kingdom (+1) and Morocco (+2). The European Union drops three places and now ranks 20th. (Morocco isn’t in Europe, but it shows that non-European countries can also perform well).
Countries lack ambition
A key weakness for many countries is that, even as renewables are rapidly improving (61 of 64 countries increased their renewables share over the last five years), emissions trends and policy implementation are lagging.
The CCPI shows that no country is yet doing enough to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement (~1.5 °C target). Climate experts are particularly concerned about the likelihood that all Member States will fully implement their NECPs by 2030. They also oppose the European Commission’s proposal to allow more flexibility in achieving the 2040 target.
