BE: "The transition pace is too slow to achieve climate targets by 2050" (Climate Transition Barometer)

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Belgium have declined by 31% since 1990, yet the current rate of progress is insufficient to reach climate neutrality by 2050. This is the main conclusion of the second Climate Transition Barometer, published by the Climate Change Department of the FPS Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment on 03/11/2025.

The report assesses Belgium’s transition towards climate neutrality by 2050 through trends in GHG emissions and energy use in five sectors that represent 98% of national emissions in 2023, or 98.6 MtCO2e. These five sectors are energy production, transport, buildings, industry and agriculture. Two more sectors, land use and international transport, are also assessed in this report.

The report notes that Belgium is a net importer of GHG emissions. Goods and services imported for consumption in Belgium generate more emissions than those linked to exports. The share of imported emissions in Belgium’s total carbon footprint has grown since 1990.

No sector on track, despite some positive developments

Of the seven sectors studied, none is…