Belgium not endorsing climate appeal after N-VA refuses to sign

A letter calling on Europe to reduce gas consumption and CO2 emissions drastically by 2030 will not be signed by Belgium, despite previous intentions to support the appeal. Flemish minister of Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA, flemish nationalists) did not agree with the demand to expand the European Emission Trading System, writes Flemish newspaper De Standaard.

More than ten EU countries – including Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark – are calling in a letter to reduce gas consumption by at least 30 per cent by 2030. Additionally, the letter wants to pressure European leaders to reduce our collective CO2 emissions with at least 55% by that year. According to the initiators, this is the only way to stop the import of Russian gas as soon as possible. “Negotiations must therefore be accelerated and ambitions increased”, states the letter. Besides Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark, the letter was also signed by Austria, Germany, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Latvia and Slovenia.

Expanding the Emission Trading System would cause an increase of at least 460 euros per year in the energy bill of “an average Flemish family”, claims Flemish minister of Environment Zuhal Demir.

The initiative coincides with the ‘Fit for 55’ package, a series of proposals by the European Commission to further tighten its climate targets. Although our country initiated the procedure to endorse the letter, Belgium will not be not signing it, reports De Standaard. Open VLD (Flemish liberals) and Groen (green party) supported the initiative, but Flemish minister of Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) did not agree with the demand to expand the European ETS (Emission Trading System) in order to reach climate neutrality more quickly. This strategy would cause an increase of at least 460 euros per year in the energy bill of “an average Flemish family”, she says.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a paradigm shift on the energy market and Europe must capitalise on this momentum to continue its green transition, states the letter. “Now is the time to be courageous and determined to continue”, the signatories say.

(BRV)

Photo shows Flemish minister of Environment, Energy, Tourism and Justice Zuhal Demir during a plenary session of the Flemish Parliament in Brussels. © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS