Greenhouse gas emissions (i59)
- 30/11/2023
- objective
- assessment
In 2021, greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 110.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in Belgium. To achieve the sustainable development goal by 2030, this figure must decrease by 55% between 1990 and 2030. The projections of the National Energy-Climate Plan 2021-2030 of Belgium indicate that this objective will not be reached (data available in November 2023). Greenhouse gas emissions are therefore developing unfavourably.
Greenhouse gas emissions - Belgium - trend assessment
million tonnes CO2 equivalent
| 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2021 | 2025 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| observations | 147.2 | 143.7 | 133.3 | 118.1 | 106.9 | 110.6 | -- | -- |
| projection (November 2023) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 111.6 | 110.1 |
| objective 2030 | 64.3 | 64.3 | 64.3 | 64.3 | 64.3 | 64.3 | 64.3 | 64.3 |
National Climate Commission (2023), National greenhouse gas inventories, http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/be/eu/mmr/art07_inventory/ghg_inventory/ (consulted on 20/03/2023); FPB calculations.
Greenhouse gas emissions - Belgium
million tonnes CO2 equivalent
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021//1990 | 2021//2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 142.9 | 147.2 | 143.7 | 133.3 | 118.1 | 116.7 | 106.9 | 110.6 | -0.8 | -1.1 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||||
National Climate Commission (2023), National greenhouse gas inventories, http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/be/eu/mmr/art07_inventory/ghg_inventory/ (consulted on 20/03/2023).
Greenhouse gas emissions - Belgium and international comparison
tonnes CO2 equivalent per capita
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021//1990 | 2021//2016 | 2020//2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 14.3 | 14.4 | 13.7 | 12.2 | 10.5 | 10.3 | 9.3 | 9.5 | -1.3 | -1.5 | -2.4 |
| EU27 | 11.8 | 10.6 | 10.7 | 9.7 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 7.5 | 7.9 | -1.3 | -2.1 | -3.2 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | |||||||||||
Eurostat (2023), Greenhouse gases emissions (source EEA) [sdg_13_10], National Climate Commission (2023), National greenhouse gas inventories, http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/be/eu/mmr/art07_inventory/ghg_inventory/, and Eurostat (2023) Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level, demo_gind3, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat (consulted on 20/03/2023); calculations FPB.
Greenhouse gas emissions by region - Belgium
tonnes CO2 equivalent per capita
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021//1990 | 2021//2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels-Capital Region | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.9 | -1.3 | -2.4 |
| Flemish Region | 15.0 | 15.3 | 15.1 | 13.9 | 12.1 | 12.0 | 10.5 | 11.0 | -1.0 | -1.7 |
| Walloon Region | 16.6 | 15.7 | 14.3 | 11.8 | 10.0 | 9.7 | 9.1 | 9.1 | -1.9 | -1.2 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||||
IRCEL/CELINE (2023), Direct communication (22/03/2023).
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector - Belgium
million tonnes CO2 equivalent
| 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021//1990 | 2021//2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| agriculture, forestry and fishing | 14.7 | 13.4 | 12.4 | 12.0 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 12.2 | 12.3 | -0.6 | 0.7 |
| energy industries | 29.7 | 28.5 | 29.0 | 26.1 | 20.8 | 19.5 | 19.0 | 18.2 | -1.6 | -1.4 |
| manufacturing industry and construction | 49.0 | 49.3 | 45.5 | 37.6 | 34.3 | 34.7 | 31.7 | 32.2 | -1.3 | -1.5 |
| residential and services | 25.1 | 27.3 | 27.6 | 27.6 | 22.5 | 22.3 | 20.7 | 22.4 | -0.4 | 0.1 |
| transport | 20.9 | 25.0 | 26.7 | 26.7 | 26.9 | 26.6 | 21.7 | 23.9 | 0.4 | -2.2 |
| other | 3.4 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.7 | -2.2 | 0.5 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||||
National Climate Commission (2023), National greenhouse gas inventories, http://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/be/eu/mmr/art07_inventory/ghg_inventory/ (consulted on 20/03/2023).
Definition: the net greenhouse gas emissions measure the total net emissions on the Belgian territory. Emissions from international aviation and sea transport are excluded. The considered greenhouse gases are those from the Kyoto protocol (UNFCCC, 1997): carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4) and fluorinated gases (HFCs, PFCs, SF6, NF3) that are not included in the Montreal Protocol (UNEP, 1987). Emissions are net emissions: the emissions and absorption of the LULUCF (Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry) sector, such as the CO2 absorption by trees, are taken into account. The indicator is expressed in millions of tons of CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2-eq.). The data come from the national inventories on greenhouse gas emissions and from the European Environment Agency.
To compare the EU27 Member States, total net emissions (including emissions from the international aviation sector) per capita are used. These are published by Eurostat for the monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Goal: greenhouse gas emissions must decrease by 55% between 1990 and 2030.
The Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs adopted by the UN in 2015 include goal 13: “Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts".
According to the Federal Government agreement of September 2020 (Federal Government, 2020) "The ambition is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality in our country by 2050". This position is consistent with the European objective of a "domestic reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions (emissions after deduction of removals) by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030" (EU, 2021)
The federal long-term strategic vision for sustainable development contains objective 31: “Belgian greenhouse gas emissions should decrease by at least 80 to 95 % by 2050 compared to the 1990 level” (Belgian Official Gazette, 08/10/2013).
International comparison: in 2021, Belgian greenhouse gas emissions amounted to 9.5 t CO2-eq./capita (including international aviation). These emissions are above the EU27 average (7.9 t/capita). When Member States are divided into three groups, Belgium is part of the group with the poorest performance in 2021. In that year, Malta ranked first with 4.6 t CO2-eq./capita and Luxembourg last with 17,6 t/capita.
UN indicator: the selected indicator corresponds to indicator 13.2.2 -Total greenhouse gas emissions per year.
Sources
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General
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SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals: United Nations (2015), Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 25 September 2015, document A/RES/70/1.
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Indicators: United Nations (2017), Work of the Statistical Commission pertaining to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 6 July 2017, document A/RES/71/313.
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UN Sustainable Development: https://sdgs.un.org/ (consulted on 18/01/2023).
- UN Sustainable Development Goal indicators website: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/ (consulted on 18/01/2023).
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Specific
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Belgian Official Gazette: http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/welcome.pl; research on http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/doc/rech_f.htm (consulted on 24/09/2020).
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EU (2021), Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’), European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32021R1119 (consulted on 25/10/2021).
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Federal Government (2020), Accord de gouvernement - 30 septembre 2020, https://www.belgium.be/sites/default/files/Accord_de_gouvernement_2020.pdf (consulted on 30/10/2020).
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UNEP (1987), Montreal protocol, UNEP, http://ozone.unep.org (consulted on 24/09/2020).
- UNFCCC (1997), Kyoto protocol, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, www.unfccc.int (consulted on 24/09/2020).
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Federal Planning Bureau
At www.indicators.be the Federal Planning Bureau presents sustainable development indicators.
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