Brussels-Capital Region

The Brussels-Capital Region is really small and relies a lot from the importation (92% from services). Therefore its objective of becoming climate neutral by 2030 could be difficult to achieve.

Nevertheless, the Region adopted in 2019 an Energy-Climate Plan to reduce its direct and indirect CO2 emissions by more than 40% (compared to 2005). Since 2020, Brussels Region is implementing a solidarity-based and socially-fair economic transition based on the “Donut Theory“.

Decarbonizing housing through citizen resilience

Brussels’ buildings are among the most energy-intensive in Europe. In order to decarbonize public and private buildings, the Region and the City have gathered various financial and building actors under the RENOLUTION project.

This project aims to support owners and co-owners, professionals and individuals, in their renovation work. Among other things, RENOLUTION offers experts for the diagnosis and means of financing to citizens on its website.

Brussels-Capital Region for a neutral and circular economy in the long term

Since 2020, Brussels Region is implementing a solidarity-based and socially-fair economic transition based on the “Donut Theory“ through one dedicated project. Recently in April 2022, Brussels Region became one of the participants to the European Commission’s initiative “100 EU climate-neutral and smart cities“. Therefore, the Region has to develop a EU funded local project to help its 2030 neutrality goal.

Moreover, the Region recent Resource and Waste Management Plan targets a decrease of the volume of household and professional waste of 20% before 2030. To achieve this, schools will host prevention actions. Also, the waste collection and treatment policy will be remade to instead encourage sorting and reuse to promote a circular economy. Actually, Brussels plans to reduce the activity of the capital’s incinerator in the long term.

Finally, to develop responsible modes of transport, the Brussels-Capital Region called for citizen participation in 2016. The development process of the regional mobility plan 2020-2030, “Good Move” lasted 4 years. 8,500 people contributed. Finally, by 2030, diesel and gasoline will be banned and the City will have a fleet of zero emission vehicles.

Sources: official website of Environnement Brussels; official project website of RENOLUTION (in Dutch); official website of BrusselsDonut Project; Mobility public service; website of the Belgian entrepreneurship incubator ‘Impact House’ about the Donut Theory; European Commission’s official ‘Press corner’ article “Commission announces 100 participating in EU Mission for climate neutral and smart cities by 2030”;