Greenhouse gas emissions non-ETS (i66)
- 31/10/2025
- objective
- assessment assessment
In 2023, the non-ETS sectors greenhouse gas emissions (not covered by the European Unionʹs emissions trading system: housing, transport, services, agriculture, etc.) in Belgium amounted to 63.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. To achieve the sustainable development goal by 2030, that figure must be reduced to 41.8 million tonnes. The projections of the Final update of the Belgian National Energy and Climate Plan indicate that this objective will not be reached (data available in November 2025). The non-ETS sectors greenhouse gas emissions are therefore developing unfavourably.
Greenhouse gas emissions non-ETS - Belgium - trend assessment
million tonnes CO2 equivalent
| 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2023 | 2025 | 2030 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| observations | -- | 78.9 | 78.9 | 72.7 | 64.9 | 63.9 | -- | -- |
| projection (PNEC 2025) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 60.4 | 46.8 |
| objective 2030 | 41.8 | 41.8 | 41.8 | 41.8 | 41.8 | 41.8 | 41.8 | 41.8 |
Note: Projection based on the parameters of the WAM (With Additional Measures) scenario of the 2025 NECP.
Source: European Environment Agency (2025), Greenhouse gas emissions in ESD sectors, https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/esd-4 (consulted on 10/10/2025); CONCERE and National Climate Commission (2025), Final update of the Belgian National Energy and Climate Plan, https://www.nationalenergyclimateplan.be/en (consulted on 10/10/2025).
Greenhouse gas emissions non-ETS - Belgium
million tonnes CO2 equivalent
| 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2023 | 2023//2005 | 2023//2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 78.9 | 78.9 | 72.7 | 74.3 | 64.9 | 63.9 | -1.2 | -3.0 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||
Source: European Environment Agency (2025), Greenhouse gas emissions in ESD sectors, https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/esd-4 (consulted on 10/10/2025).
Greenhouse gas emissions non-ETS - EU27
billion tonnes CO2 equivalent
| 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2023 | 2023//2005 | 2023//2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU27 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.0 | -1.0 | -1.7 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||
Source: European Environment Agency (2025), Greenhouse gas emissions in ESD sectors, https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/esd-4 (consulted on 10/10/2025).
Greenhouse gas emissions non-ETS - Belgium and international comparison
tonnes CO2 equivalent per capita
| 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2023 | 2023//2005 | 2023//2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 7.5 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.6 | 5.4 | -1.8 | -3.6 |
| EU27 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.6 | 4.5 | -1.2 | -1.8 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||
Source: European Environment Agency (2025), Greenhouse gas emissions in ESD sectors, https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/esd-4; Eurostat (2025), Population change - Demographic balance and crude rates at national level, Population on 1 January [demo_gind], https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat(consulted on 10/10/2025); calculations FPB.
Greenhouse gas emissions non-ETS by region - Belgium
tonnes CO2 equivalent per capita
| 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2018 | 2020 | 2023 | 2023//2005 | 2023//2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brussels-Capital Region | 4.5 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.7 | -2.9 | -3.8 |
| Flemish Region | 8.0 | 8.4 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 6.1 | 5.8 | -1.8 | -3.8 |
| Walloon Region | 8.0 | 7.6 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 5.4 | -2.1 | -3.1 |
| //: Average Growth Rates | ||||||||
Source: AWAC (2025), Emissions de GES en Wallonie 1990-2023, https://awac.be/inventaires-demission/emission-de-ges25/ (consulted on 13/10/2025) ; Bruxelles Environnement (2025), direct communication (3/10/2025); VMM (2025), Overzicht uitstoot broeikasgassen, https://vmm.vlaanderen.be/feiten-cijfers/lucht/internationale-rapporteringen/emissies-broeikasgassen (consulted on 13/10/2025).
Definition: this indicator measures greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sectors that are not covered by the EU Emissions Trading System (EU-ETS) introduced in 2005. This system was established in 2005 in the European Union for companies emitting high levels of CO2 (e.g. power generation, metallurgy, non-metallic ores or fertilisers). GHG emissions are therefore divided into emissions from the sectors covered by the EU-ETS and emissions from sectors that are not covered by this system (also known as 'ESR sectors' for Effort Sharing Regulation). These ESR-sectors mainly include transport (excluding aviation), services, housing, agriculture, waste and industries not covered by the ETS. The indicator is expressed in millions of tonnes of CO2 equivalent (Mt CO2 eq.). Comparisons between EU27 countries are based on emissions per capita. Data come from Eurostat.
The following breakdown is available for this indicator: region.
Goal: GHG emissions from non-ETS sectors must be reduced by 47% between 2005 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".
The Federal Long-Term Strategic Vision for Sustainable Development includes objective 31: "The Belgian GHG emissions will be reduced domestically by at least 80% to 95% by 2050 as compared to their 1990 level"(Belgian Official Gazette, 08/10/2013).
At European level, Regulation (EU) 2018/842 set a 30% reduction target for emissions from the ESR sectors between 2005 and 2030. In 2023, Regulation (EU) 2023/857 sets a new emissions reduction target for 2030 of 40% below 2005 levels. This new regulation also provides for a breakdown of the effort by Member State and sets a reduction in ESR emissions for Belgium of 47% between 2005 and 2030 (instead of the 35% initially set in Regulation 2018/842).
UN indicator: the selected indicator does not correspond to any monitoring indicator for the SDGs but is related to goal 13 because the fight against climate change requires a significant reduction in GHG emissions.
Sources
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