August 11, 2026
Scientists have run the numbers, and the result isn’t exactly a pat on the back for the internal combustion engine. A study published in Science shows that replacing a functioning gasoline car with an EV cuts lifetime carbon emissions by 58%. Even if that gasoline car is only a year old. Also, the old “drive […]
August 10, 2026
The Belgian Interfederal Screening Committee, a body tasked with ensuring that major investments by foreign, non-European organizations do not lead to geopolitical surprises, has decided to block the acquisition of the Ostend-based helicopter operator Noordzee Helikopters Vlaanderen (NHV) by a Chinese investor. These concerns relate to “risks to national security, Belgium’s strategic interests, and possible […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
August 04, 2026
The British multinational oil and gas company Shell is selling its European onshore renewable energy operations, such as wind and solar farms, to the French group TotalEnergies. The deal involves a portfolio of 4 gigawatts, of which 500 megawatts are currently operational. Under CEO Wael Sawan, Shell has taken a more critical look at renewable […]
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 […]
July 29, 2026
Climate change has long since ceased to be an abstract threat, and yet politicians hardly ever mention it. More than thirty years after the first alarm bells were raised, the political establishment still shrugs off the extreme temperatures. “Two thousand people are dead, yet not even a minute of silence was observed,” said Jean-Pascal van Ypersele […]
July 27, 2026
Climate change is no longer an abstract threat but a harsh reality. Forest fires are raging so fiercely in Spain, France, and other European countries that some have declared a state of emergency. Meanwhile, roughly 300,000 to 360,000 people have been evacuated across France and Spain due to wildfires. In Belgium, the June 27 heatwave […]
July 22, 2026
Last June, Western Europe was hit by the most widespread heat wave on record, and several countries in Southern Europe are currently still grappling with persistent, intense heat and wildfires. UNECE, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, then called on countries in Europe, North America, and Central Asia to urgently make their transportation infrastructure […]
July 20, 2026
The European Commission wants to give heavy industry more time to curb CO2 emissions. This became apparent on Friday during the presentation of the long-awaited reform of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS1). Companies in the most energy-intensive sectors – chemicals, cement, steel, glass, etc. – have for years been required to pay for the CO2 […]
July 20, 2026
The flight tax for flights longer than 500 km, which the Belgian government had planned to raise from 5€ to 10€ starting in 2027, has ultimately been set at 7€. The inner cabinet decided it. “This change better protects Wallonia’s economic interests while also meeting the federal government’s budgetary targets”, says the office of Walloon […]
July 14, 2026
The Belgian company John Cockerill Hydrogen has unveiled its first hydrogen electrolyzer designed and manufactured entirely in France. The unveiling took place in Belfort at McPhy’s industrial site, which John Cockerill Hydrogen acquired last year, along with some of its staff and patents. The 30-metric-ton unit enables the production of decarbonized hydrogen from water. Push […]
July 14, 2026
Air conditioners are generally considered ‘environmentally unfriendly’ due to their high electricity consumption. However, using them in winter can reduce CO2 emissions. Air conditioners, which function as heat pumps, owe this positive contribution to their efficient operation. A portion of the heating provided by a heat pump, therefore, counts as renewable energy, allowing users with […]
July 13, 2026
Starting May 1 of next year, Belgium plans to require a road vignette for all drivers on Belgian highways and regional roads. “Yet another one,” the exasperated drivers must be thinking as they prepare to set off on vacation by car, because the myriad systems for road and environmental vignettes and low-emission zones (LEZ) across […]
July 13, 2026
On Saturday in France, protesters demonstrated against the construction of the Seine-Nord Europe canal, a key component of the Seine-Scheldt Link, a large-scale inland waterway project intended to connect the French river with ports in Belgium and the Netherlands by 2032. Protesters are particularly concerned about the impact on waterways and wetlands, and the loss […]
July 10, 2026
The June heat wave led to a notably higher excess mortality rate in Wallonia and Brussels than in Flanders. Experts point to a combination of factors: geographic conditions, the urban heat island effect, socioeconomic vulnerability, housing quality, and possibly air pollution. Because no matter how you look at it, poverty has long been linked to […]
July 10, 2026
The number of airline passengers is projected to more than double by 2045, following an average annual growth rate of 3.9%, reaching approximately 10 billion per year. This is according to Airbus’s new Global Market Forecast 2026-2045, the European aerospace corporation. Although the aviation industry has set a net-zero goal for 2050, the forecast also […]
July 09, 2026
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), June 2026 was the hottest June on record for Western Europe and the second-warmest globally. The heatwave that hit much of Europe during the second half of June came only a few weeks after a particularly intense heatwave in May, followed by another in early July. The […]
July 09, 2026
The European aerospace corporation Airbus plans to establish a joint venture with aircraft engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines to produce hydrogen-powered engines. These engines are intended to eventually serve as an alternative to fossil-fuel-powered internal combustion engines, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from aviation. Fuel cells Through the joint venture, which is expected to become operational […]
July 08, 2026
Biodiversity in Belgian coastal waters has changed fundamentally over the past few decades due to global warming. Typical cold-water species, such as brown shrimp, gobies, and herring/sprat, are now far less abundant, whereas warm-water species (like the venomous lesser weever) and comb jellies are thriving. This is shown by research conducted by biologist Ward Stellamans […]
July 08, 2026
The Brussels government is looking for a date for a second car-free Sunday, and the process isn’t going smoothly. Social media, in particular, where Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt (Groen) is coming under fire, especially from mainly anti-Good Move civic groups, is fanning the flames. The reason for the commotion? The coalition agreement stipulates […]
July 04, 2026
Brussels Airlines has taken delivery of its 8th Airbus A320neo aircraft. Thanks to its investment in this quieter aircraft model, the Belgian airline has halved its fleet’s noise pollution since 2014. Although Brussels Airlines’ approach to reducing noise pollution is sincere, its legal strategy is moving in the opposite direction. Indeed, it recently vehemently opposed […]
July 03, 2026
Last summer, 1.6 million train tickets to international destinations were purchased from the Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB, a 6% increase over the previous year. Current ticket sales also confirm this upward trend. One reason Belgians are increasingly choosing to travel by train is the growing range of destinations available. Currently, you can travel from […]
June 30, 2026
Starting Wednesday, July 1, the grace period in Brussels will officially end, and the tax authorities will begin issuing fines to the latest group of drivers who violate the low-emission zone (LEZ) standards. Specifically, more than 13,000 vehicles – Euro 5 diesel and Euro 2 gasoline cars that received a warning earlier this year – […]
June 26, 2026
Between 2019 and 2024, the number of unique classic cars, or old-timers, driving through Brussels’ Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) more than tripled, from around 4,500 to nearly 14,000 vehicles. This is according to figures from Brussels Environment that Member of Parliament Benjamin Dalle (CD&V) requested. According to the Brussels parliamentarian, this indicates that these cars are […]
June 25, 2026
The new rules the EU plans to introduce for booking tickets for cross-border rail travel still mean that nearly half of the busiest international train journeys are difficult or impossible to book. That’s according to T&E, a lobby group for sustainable mobility, in a new report. T&E also proposes several changes and measures that would […]
June 25, 2026
A new study by KU Leuven and Sciensano, published in the scientific journal ‘Environment International’, reveals that pollen allergy and asthma should not be treated as a ‘pollen-only’ problem but as a climate-health issue. It shows that the combination of higher temperatures, higher pollen concentrations, and air pollution leads to increased allergic symptoms and asthma in […]
June 24, 2026
Yesterday, we reported that electricity prices are rising sharply due to the massive demand for power to run air conditioners. The heat of the past few days and the demand for cooling are driving power prices to record highs. Prices above 1,000 euros per megawatt-hour have not been seen since 2020. However, to obtain electricity on […]
June 24, 2026
The ongoing heat wave continues to cause problems for NMBS/SNCB: through Friday, the Belgian public railway company will cancel 100 trains daily. According to NMBS/SNCB, the measure is necessary to ensure the well-being and safety of both passengers and staff. Despite recent modernization efforts, many older trains lack air conditioning and are also more prone […]
June 23, 2026
Australian metal mining company Fortescue is set to charter up to 12 Newcastlemax vessels – giant dry bulk carriers with a deadweight tonnage of 210,000 metric tons – capable of running on ammonia from Bocimar, the pioneer in green propulsion with the Belgian shipping company CMB.TECH. Ammonia is seen as a promising alternative fuel for […]
June 23, 2026
The heat of the past few days is driving electricity prices to their highest level in years. On the wholesale electricity market, 658.09 euros per megawatt-hour must now be paid. It has been since December 2022 that electricity has been this expensive. The most expensive time is around a quarter to nine and nine o’clock in […]
June 22, 2026
The Belgian public railway company NMBS/SNCB will cancel some P-trains today and tomorrow due to the heat wave. These are mostly older, non-air-conditioned trains that have been parked in direct sunlight all day. Passengers are advised to plan their trips before departure via the NMBS/SNCB website or app. No airco P-trains operate during peak hours. […]
June 22, 2026
Parts of Europe are experiencing a severe heatwave. Several countries are suffering through the second heatwave of the year, leading to dangerous spikes in ground-level ozone pollution with devastating consequences for human and environmental health, warns the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Europe’s largest network of environmental NGOs. After several days of temperatures above 35°C, Italian […]
June 18, 2026
The Antwerp-based construction company Smulders will participate in the construction of a power outlet in the North Sea for the German grid operator 50Hertz, a subsidiary of the Belgian high-voltage group Elia. The offshore power connector, known as ‘North Sea Connector 2,’ will enable up to 2 gigawatts of wind power electricity to be transmitted […]
June 15, 2026
NÜWIEL, a German manufacturer of eTrailers, has been selected by the City of Antwerp for a new pilot project under the “Smart to Antwerp” initiative to help the city transition to zero-emissions logistics. Local businesses and entrepreneurs can try NÜWIEL’s eTrailer for free for 4 weeks to see if it can help reduce traffic congestion […]
June 11, 2026
China’s rapid shift to electric and other new-energy vehicles reduced urban air pollution enough to prevent an estimated 262,000 premature deaths, according to a new peer-reviewed study published in Nature Health. The study’s researchers, published in May, compared actual pollution levels to a counterfactual scenario in which every vehicle on the road still ran on […]
June 10, 2026
The Belgian-Limburg logistics group H. Essers has opened a new inland waterway container terminal in Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands. Thanks to its location outside the dike, inland waterway containers can now remain on the water from start to finish between the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. The new terminal has a capacity of 250,000 […]
June 08, 2026
Normally, the LEZ fines for Euro 5 diesel and Euro 2 gasoline vehicles were set to take effect in Brussels on June 7, but the date has been postponed yet again. Brussels Minister of Finance Dirk De Smedt (Anders) has now confirmed that the fines can be collected starting July 1. Specifically, 13,219 vehicles that […]
June 08, 2026
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has nearly halved its profit forecasts for airlines. This is primarily due to higher fuel prices, but also because the war in the Middle East has severely disrupted flights through aviation hubs such as Dubai. Nevertheless, IATA estimates that this year the number of passengers will exceed 5 billion […]
June 01, 2026
Renault Group is announcing the renewal of its science-based targets, with a new approval of its near- and long-term targets by the Science Based Targets initiative. These targets are supported by the product momentum of the ‘futuREady’ strategic plan. In 2019, Renault Group was the first carmaker to rely on science-based climate targets. Renault is announcing the renewal of its science-based […]
May 20, 2026
According to new data from the International Council on Clean Transportation ICCT, zero- and low-emission architectures accounted for a quarter of all global light-duty vehicle sales in 2025. While established markets show significant variation, emerging economies — particularly in Southeast Asia — are rapidly accelerating the e-mobility transition. The global electrification of light-duty vehicles, combining […]
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 11, 2026
Sustainable travel in Europe is no longer a niche market; it’s a movement, just like slow travel. Not only are airfare and driving costs rising due to the crisis in the Middle East, but many people with vacation plans are looking for alternatives. In addition to a train trip or an active cycling or hiking […]
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 […]
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 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
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 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
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
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 […]
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
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 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 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 […]
