CREA: China’s CO₂ emissions fall fastest since Covid as EVs gain ground

November 06, 2026

According to an analysis by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) published by Carbon Brief, China’s CO2 emissions fell 3.1% in the third quarter of 2026, the fastest pace since the Covid-19 pandemic. The war in the Middle East and the disruptions to maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz have […]

UHasselt: slower by design, why speed signs aren’t enough

November 05, 2026

Researchers at IMOB, the Institute for Mobility at UHasselt University, want to understand how road design can cause drivers to slow down. It is generally known that introducing a 30 km/h zone by simply putting up a sign is not enough; you also have to redesign the road. Otherwise, it won’t work. Scientists also want to […]

Brazil unveils world’s first fossil fuel exit roadmap, but no deadlines

November 04, 2026

Brazil says governments must ‘completely change’ the way they deal with climate change. The country, the host of last year’s United Nations climate conference, is ending its year-long presidency of ​the UN climate process and has set out the world’s first global ‘roadmap’ for phasing out fossil fuels. It shows that countries can boost their […]

Even 1.5°C is too much to save Earth’s ice, scientists warn

November 03, 2026

According to two new reports published on Monday by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI), in cooperation with the UN Environment Program (UNEP), the ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica are melting at around six times the rate of the 1990s. Scientists warn that exceeding 1.5°C of global warming will have “irreversible” consequences for glaciers, sea […]

Europe turns to underground heat to replace gas and Belgium could be next

October 29, 2026

Two climate organizations, Project InnerSpace and Future Cleantech Architects (FCA), have assessed geothermal energy’s potential as an energy source in the European Union. The study highlights thirty industrial clusters across twelve European countries, including Belgium.  Belgium has both the geological resources and industrial concentration to benefit from geothermal heat, but has developed the technology far […]

Europe braces for 3°C warming: the deadly €70 billion challenge

October 28, 2026

Heat now claims roughly as many lives worldwide as HIV or malaria, according to the latest Lancet Countdown report, which estimates 710,000 heat-related deaths in 2023. As scientists warn that climate change is becoming a global health emergency, the European Commission has unveiled a new climate resilience framework requiring member states to prepare for increasingly […]

Oxfam: ‘Climate chaos deepens inequality and enriches the few’

October 27, 2026

A new Oxfam analysis estimates that the world’s richest 0.1 percent (8 million people) produce more carbon pollution than the world’s poorest 44% (3.5 billion people) combined. A person in the richest 0.1 percent has contributed nearly 400 times more to today’s extreme heatwaves than someone in the poorest 50%. Oxfam collaborated with researcher Sarah […]

Gender gap: women drive cheaper company cars across Europe

October 26, 2026

New research by HR specialist Group S finds that men are favored over women for company cars. In Belgium, women drive company cars worth an average of €5,300 less than their male colleagues. The average company car price for men is €49,000, compared with €43,699 for women. The average catalog price difference is 10,8% lower […]

Tesla’s 106 Megapacks take shape at former Belgian coal plant

October 23, 2026

A former coal-fired power station in Genk is being transformed into a giant battery-storage hub, with Belgian energy developer Storm installing 106 Tesla Megapack 2XL units on the Langerlo site. Flemish Environment Minister Jo Brouns and Genk Mayor Wim Dries visited the construction site on Thursday, October 22, as installation of the batteries progressed. Once […]

More than 4 out of 10 Bpost delivery vans are now electric

October 23, 2026

The Belgian postal company Bpost is accelerating the electrification of its delivery fleet. By the end of October, Bpost will have 4,165 electric delivery vans on the road, accounting for 42% of its delivery transporter fleet and four times the number it had three years ago. The procurement pace corresponds to an increase of about 1,000 […]

UN report: Clean energy surges, yet world heads for 2.8°C warming

October 21, 2026

Clean energy is expanding far faster than expected, yet the world remains on course for 2.8°C of global warming by the end of the century under current policies. The latest UN Emissions Gap Report highlights a troubling paradox: while solar and wind power are booming, fossil-fuel emissions remain stubbornly high. The United States’ withdrawal from […]

Auto5: ‘Belgians shop for cheaper tires, but at what safety cost?’

October 21, 2026

Research commissioned by Auto5 shows that 63% of drivers choose tires based on price. 33% look for the best deal by comparing options online, although only 24% buy them online. Auto5 warns that focusing solely on the cost of new tires isn’t always the best long-term choice.  The Auto5 study also says 65% of drivers are […]

H.Essers triples electric truck fleet but 2030 target remains far away

October 19, 2026

The Genk-based logistics group H.Essers is further expanding its electric fleet with 20 new e-trucks. This brings H.Essers’ electric truck fleet to 31. Yet its 31 battery-electric trucks still account for just 2.3% of its 1,358-vehicle fleet. The company is also expanding charging infrastructure and energy supply across several sites. The logistics service provider aims to […]

Belgian cycling airbag on Time Magazine’s ‘best inventions’ list

October 19, 2026

American Time Magazine has included the bicycle airbag from Turnhout-based company Aerobag on its list of the best inventions of 2026. The system protects cyclists in a fall by inflating an airbag around the neck and upper body in just 100 milliseconds. The Aerobag has been in development for six years. The system is integrated into […]

Brussels Mobility mobilizes schools to ensure children’s safety in traffic

October 16, 2026

As days grow shorter and winter approaches, the regional public service Brussels Mobility urges drivers to make children and young people more visible on the road. Starting October 15, the organization will launch several awareness-raising campaigns. For several years, Brussels Mobility has observed that accidents involving pedestrians during the evening rush hour (between 5 p.m. […]

Limburg offers free truck training amid Europe’s 500,000-driver shortage

October 16, 2026

With Europe facing a shortage of more than half a million truck drivers, five transport companies in Belgium’s Limburg province are offering young people a free route into the profession. The initiative reflects a growing European effort to remove costly entry barriers as the industry struggles to replace retiring drivers. But attracting a new generation […]

IRENA: ‘EVs could help solve renewables’ growing grid dilemma’

October 14, 2026

The world is installing renewable energy at record speed, but its electricity networks and storage capacity are struggling to keep up. In its new World Energy Transitions Outlook 2026, published on 13 October, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) explains that renewable electricity is expanding faster than the infrastructure and energy systems needed to use […]

Dutch drivers reject Belgian tolls, but the Netherlands charges too

October 13, 2026

More than eight in ten Dutch respondents support keeping the Benelux toll-free, according to a new survey by Dutch motoring organization ANWB. With Flanders preparing to introduce a digital road vignette in May 2027, 34% say they would look for alternative routes, while 22% expect to visit Belgium by car less often. Yet the Netherlands […]

Climate protests grow again, but is Europe losing its green momentum?

October 12, 2026

Tens of thousands of people returned to the streets of Brussels on Sunday in one of Belgium’s largest climate demonstrations since the historic school strikes of 2019. Police counted 45,000 participants, while organizers estimated 60,000, roughly twice last year’s turnout. Yet the renewed mobilization comes as climate ambitions increasingly compete with economic pressures, wars, and […]

More electric cars, but no further drop in Flanders’ emissions

October 08, 2026

Despite the growing popularity of electric cars, greenhouse gas emissions in Flanders have stopped falling for the third consecutive year. The uncomfortable finding comes just days before thousands of climate protesters are expected to return to the streets of Brussels on Sunday, October 11th, demanding stronger action against global warming. According to the Flemish Energy […]

Belgium to test Swedish-style ‘alcohol gates’ at public venues

October 07, 2026

Belgium wants to introduce Swedish-style ‘alcohol gates’ at public locations as part of a broader crackdown on drink-driving. The system, already used in Sweden, requires drivers to pass a breath test before a barrier opens, preventing those over the limit from entering the public road network. The federal government plans to test the technology at […]

Traxio: ‘Used speed pedelecs sales nearly doubled in three years’

October 07, 2026

Registrations of new speed pedelecs during the summer months were, on average, just under 20% higher than last year. As a result, the total figure for the first nine months – 12,293 units – is a remarkable 13.4% higher than in 2025, and 14% higher than in 2024. “If this rapid growth continues over the […]

Traxio: used EVs rise as private buyers tighten car budgets

October 06, 2026

Geopolitical uncertainty, high interest rates, and equally high gasoline prices are making consumers hesitate when buying a car. Private customers, in particular, are looking for good deals more than ever; they gather thorough information and want maximum certainty. Yet they keep buying cars, mostly used ones, including electric vehicles. Private individuals consistently focus on a car’s […]

Copernicus: Western Europe had its hottest summer on record

October 05, 2026

The European climate agency Copernicus concludes that last summer was the hottest Western European summer on record. The average temperature was 21.7 degrees, 2.5 degrees warmer than the 1991-2020 summer average, according to the latest Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) European Summer Review 2026, published on 2 October. Copernicus highlights the far-reaching consequences of these climate […]

Ghent offers 11,000 families their own mobility budget

October 02, 2026

The city of Ghent wants to help 11,000 families with a social mobility budget. From 1 May 2027, they can get financial support for car sharing, bike sharing, purchasing or renting a bicycle, bicycle repairs, cycling lessons, and collective transport to work. The city is allocating 4.46 million euros for this purpose.  Mobility Alderman Joris Vandenbroucke […]

Flanders’ new budget shields infrastructure, but slows down De Lijn’s growth

October 01, 2026

Mobility infrastructure is largely escaping the axe in the Flemish government’s biggest savings operation yet. While Flanders must find nearly €2 billion in savings next year and more than €3 billion by 2029, roads, waterways, and other major public works remain relatively protected compared with many other policy areas. Of the total effort, €1.2 billion […]

From e-scooter to taxi: Bolt sees users mix and match

September 14, 2026

Shared e-scooters and ride-hailing may seem to compete for the same urban journeys, but five years of Belgian Bolt data suggest that many customers increasingly use both. In August 2026, 44% of active Belgian users of Bolt’s shared e-scooters and e-bikes also booked a car through the platform during the same month. That was 5.8 […]

From scrap to spare parts: Belgian Didier bets on reuse

September 10, 2026

The days when an end-of-life car disappeared into a scrapyard are increasingly numbered. Belgian vehicle recycling already recovers 98% of a scrapped car’s weight, but the next challenge is more ambitious: keeping complete parts in use rather than reducing everything to raw materials. West-Flemish dismantler Autohandel Didier, founded in 1993 by Didier Vanwijnsberghe, illustrates how […]

Europe’s largest CO2 capture plant inaugurated in the Netherlands

September 09, 2026

The Norwegian fertilizer giant Yara inaugurated Europe’s largest CO2 capture plant on Monday in Sluiskil (the Netherlands), near the Belgian border.  The aim is to capture up to 800,000 tons of CO2 from its ammonia production every year, or about 0.5 percent of the Netherlands’ total annual emissions, and store it permanently.  The plant completes […]

Belgium turns speeding fines into emotional wake-up calls

September 08, 2026

Anyone logging into the Belgian platform Just-on-web from Monday onward to pay a speeding fine will receive testimonials from mothers of children killed in accidents, alongside the federal speeding violation notices. In addition, the federal letters on speeding violations include cards with personal messages from witnesses.  That is the core of a new road safety […]

Bob campaign sees drink-driving rate fall for fifth year running

September 04, 2026

According to the federal police, the latest Bob campaign conducted in Belgium during the summer has once again presented encouraging results, with ‘only’ 1.36% of drivers testing positive for alcohol. When the first campaign was launched in 1995 – 31 years ago – that figure was still 6.4%. The message is certainly getting through, then […]

CREG: ‘Energy prices at highest level in years’

September 03, 2026

The federal energy regulator CREG, the Commission for Electricity and Gas Regulation, warns that the numerous projects planned by high-voltage grid operator Elia over the coming years will lead to high electricity rates for households and businesses.  The plans include, among other things, the energy island, new high-voltage lines such as Ventilus and Boucle du […]

This robot dog ‘poops’ your parcel, while selling you ads

September 03, 2026

America’s Robot.com is proud to present R-dog, the new delivery robot with a friendly face and WALL-E-like eyes, a red cap, and an approachable design. It can wiggle its furry tail and then ‘poop’ your package onto your porch. The R-dog has four articulated legs with wheels at the ends, so it can roll efficiently […]

Belgium is Europe’s commuting champion for time, not distance

September 02, 2026

Belgian employees spend more than one hour a day traveling to and from work, making Belgium once again Europe’s commuting champion. But the explanation is not simply that Belgians live farther from their jobs. In fact, Dutch employees often cover even greater distances. Belgium’s problem is that those kilometers take unusually long to cover. According […]

Silent threat? Vias says some EVs are still too hard to hear

August 28, 2026

A recent study by the Belgian road safety institute Vias shows that electric vehicles are more frequently involved in accidents with vulnerable road users. They are involved in 42% of injury-causing accidents involving electric cars, compared with 27% for all car types. Vias analyzed whether the lower noise levels of electric and hybrid vehicles could affect the […]

Vias: ‘Cars get safer, bicycles don’t: half of seriously injured are cyclists’

August 27, 2026

In 2024, 13,581 traffic casualties in Belgium were hospitalized following a traffic accident. Of these casualties, 3,232 people suffered serious injuries.  That is 7% fewer than in 2023, and 17% fewer than in 2016, while total hospitalizations fell by 17%. The figures come from a new report published by Vias, the Belgian road safety institute. The […]

Belgium’s mobility budget: one in four bites, three in four pay mortgage

August 26, 2026

Although large employers will be required to offer a mobility budget starting in 2027, Belgian companies do not expect a mass switch. The mobility budget may well be presented as an alternative to the company car, but employers do not believe that employees will adopt it en masse. According to a study by SD Worx among […]

Flanders’ truck parking plan: 800 spaces against a need for 1,800

August 26, 2026

Flanders wants to create 500 to 800 additional truck parking spaces along its motorways over the next ten years. But that ambition falls well short of what its own research says is needed: at least 1,800 extra spaces within five to ten years. The expansion is part of the new Strategic Network Plan for Service […]

Copernicus : ‘Sea surface temperature never higher than on August 22’

August 25, 2026

On August 22, seawater temperature (between 60 degrees south and 60 degrees north latitude) reached its highest level ever – 21.10°C, the highest sea surface temperature ever measured. The European Earth observation service Copernicus announced this in a press release on Monday. The new figures even break the previous record of 21.09°C set in March 2024.  […]

Higher CO2 levels make food more calorie-dense but not more nutritious

August 24, 2026

Scientists at Leiden University have found evidence that plants grow faster due to increased CO2. The flip side is that they become higher in calories but less nutritious. The nutritional value of virtually all crops has declined – plants contain less protein, iron, and other nutrients.  The Leiden study pooled thousands of observations across dozens of crops […]

Genk launches city-wide platform to trade neighbors’ solar power

August 24, 2026

The city of Genk (Belgium) will be among the first to establish an energy community in which residents, associations, and companies can buy and sell locally generated renewable electricity. Genk calls the initiative “a Belgian first for a public authority,” but municipalities including Ganshoren and Ixelles have already launched similar initiatives. For the Genk project, the […]

London’s ULEZ clears the air and children’s lungs show the difference

August 20, 2026

Air quality in London has improved significantly since the expansion of the Ultra-Low-Emission Zone – an area within the city where polluting vehicles must pay a fee to enter. The ULEZ was first established under current London Mayor Sadiq Khan in 2019, was expanded in 2021 and 2023, and now covers all of Greater London, […]

From fatbike to skinnybike: Dutch e-bike craze finds a new loophole

August 19, 2026

A new phenomenon has emerged in the Netherlands: the skinnybike – the counterpart to the fatbike. Skinnybikes have tires that are up to six centimeters narrower than those of a fatbike. Like fatbikes, they are theoretically electric bikes with pedal assistance up to 25 kilometers per hour. You therefore have to keep pedaling to move […]

Diabetes behind the wheel: is Belgium’s licence law stuck in the past?

August 18, 2026

Belgium requires virtually every driver diagnosed with diabetes to obtain a medically restricted license, while neighboring countries increasingly focus only on those whose condition or treatment creates a real driving risk. Yet according to the Belgian road safety institute Vias, one in five people with diabetes is driving without the required adapted license. That discrepancy […]

Oil majors double profits as Europe debates taxing the windfall

August 17, 2026

Europe’s major oil companies have more than doubled their profits in the latest quarter of 2026, reigniting the debate over whether governments should tax part of those gains while simultaneously spending public money to shield motorists from high fuel prices. According to an analysis by the environmental lobby group Transport & Environment, eight major oil […]

Police warn over TripRank app turning streets into a paid racing game

August 14, 2026

The federal police are sounding the alarm about TripRank, an app that rewards street racing – the latest craze among street racers. The police are warning of life-threatening situations on the road. TripRank records speed, routes traveled, and driving behavior, among other things. The faster users drive on public roads, the more points they receive, and […]

More EVs aren’t the real grid problem, charging them all at once is

August 13, 2026

The rapid growth of electric cars is often blamed for putting more pressure on electricity grids. But a new Dutch analysis suggests the biggest problem is not simply how many EVs are plugged in, but how many start charging at the same time. Mobility provider Shuttel analyzed almost two million charging sessions from around 25,000 […]

Tailgating: the Dutch hate it, Belgian drivers do it (update)

August 12, 2026

Tailgating is one of the biggest annoyances in traffic. It is a widespread European and international road-safety problem and not a Belgian or Dutch peculiarity. In the Netherlands, more than one in six motorists (16.2%) cite it as their primary source of irritation. Next come making non-hands-free calls while driving (15.8%) and failing to use […]

Paris tells e-scooter riders: helmet on, hi-vis vest too

August 11, 2026

Paris has tightened safety measures for electric scooter users through traffic regulations, speed limits, and enforcement. Riders are now also required to wear helmets and high-visibility vests while riding their scooters on public roads. Without an approved helmet, they risk a 135-euro fine; not wearing a reflective jacket can result in a 35-euro penalty. The […]

Copernicus: ‘Highest global ocean surface temperatures in July’

August 10, 2026

In July 2026, prolonged hot and dry conditions in western Europe led to the spread and intensification of extreme wildfires. Western Europe experienced its hottest June-July period on record, and July saw the third and fourth heatwaves since May, marking an exceptional run of extreme heat this summer. Globally, the month was the joint second […]

Rhine drought threatens Germany’s truck-free Sundays (update)

August 10, 2026

Four German federal states are temporarily lifting the driving ban that has kept trucks off the highways on Sundays and public holidays since 1956. The measure came into effect this weekend and is intended to provide an alternative to waterborne transport, given the extremely low water levels of the Rhine. The states of Rhineland-Palatinate, North […]

Belgium captures 15% of Dutch border-region gasoline demand

August 06, 2026

An increasing number of Dutch people living in the border region with Belgium are filling up their tanks in Belgium, according to research by ABN AMRO. By now, approximately 15 percent of gasoline consumption in that region has shifted to Belgium. The Dutch are flocking to Belgium to fill up their tanks, now that the price […]

France targets powerful cars for novice drivers, Belgium may follow

August 06, 2026

Starting this autumn, young drivers in France will no longer be allowed to drive powerful cars. France is banning young drivers from operating a vehicle “with engine power exceeding a specified threshold.” This ban applies to any car a novice driver operates, including borrowed or rented vehicles. The trigger is a series of serious accidents involving young […]

Belgium and Netherlands double down on cross-border power links

August 05, 2026

On Tuesday, August 4, the Brabo III high-voltage line in the Port of Antwerp was officially opened, with the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) and Dutch Minister Rob Jetten in attendance. Elia and TenneT have inaugurated the Brabo project – an upgrade to the electricity interconnection between Belgium and the Netherlands – in […]

‘Climate change has no reverse gear, but we still control the brakes’

August 04, 2026

Anyone who thought we could turn back the climate clock and return to the old ‘normal’ is in for a disappointment. Even if we stop driving gasoline-fueled cars and having barbecues, no one alive today will ever experience that former normal again.  The sobering message comes from Bart Strengers, a climate scientist at the Netherlands Environmental […]

BIPT: ‘Bpost records Belgium’s lowest parcel-delivery emissions’

August 04, 2026

According to research by the telecom regulator BIPT, Bpost is by far the most eco-friendly parcel delivery service in Belgium. BIPT was commissioned to map out the environmental footprint of parcel delivery in the country. According to the BIPT study, Bpost performs remarkably well compared to other parcel services. The reason? Bpost is investing heavily in […]

Hit-and-run scourge: Belgium fares worst among its neighbors

August 03, 2026

In one out of four traffic accidents in Belgium involving pedestrian injuries, the person responsible flees the scene. Cyclists also frequently fall victim to hit-and-run accidents. Although most perpetrators are caught, the phenomenon remains alarmingly widespread, the Vias Institute reported on Sunday. Belgium has the worst record among its neighboring countries for hit-and-run crashes involving pedestrians. In […]

Belgian Innoptus Solar Team: ‘We are the US champions!’

August 03, 2026

After eight days of blood, sweat, and tears, the Innoptus Solar Team can finally claim victory. They are incredibly proud to have concluded their American adventure by achieving the goal they set out with a year ago: clinching the overall victory. “We knew that a great deal of work would have to be done on the […]

Innoptus Solar Team: ‘Less than 500 km to the finish in Amarillo, Texas’

July 31, 2026

On Wednesday, the Belgian Innoptus Solar Team grabbed first place in the American Solar Challenge, and one day later, it maintained that position despite a significant change in weather conditions. On Thursday, the Belgian team finished 38 kilometers ahead of their Dutch rivals from Delft. Today, two days before the end of the American Solar Challenge, […]

Europe’s shrinking rivers threaten fuel supplies, industry, and food prices

July 31, 2026

The prolonged heat is leading to low water levels in rivers. This year has been marked not only by low water levels, but also by their remaining below the minimum navigable level for an extended period. This, in turn, is developing into a combined transport, industrial, agricultural, and water-management crisis. The immediate problem is that […]

Create a free account, or log in.

Gain access to read this article, plus limited free content.

Yes! I would like to receive new content and updates.