Belgium again lacks deadline for National Climate Plan
Minister Jean-Luc Crucke believes that it will work by the summer – © Belga
Belgium will also not submit a national climate plan to the European Commission on 12 May. However, the delay then ends that our country had obtained from the committee. Federal Minister of Climate Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) is in control that it will work by the summer.
Source: VRT NWS
Today at 6:48 PM
In that climate plan, our country must explain what measures it will take to achieve the European climate objectives. By 2030, Belgium must emit 47 percent fewer greenhouse gases than in 2005.
That will be quite a challenge. A first version of the plan only reached 42.6 percent. « Clearly under the objective, » the committee then said.
But that reworked climate plan will not come yet, says Federal Minister of Climate Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) to VRT NWS. « Belgium will certainly not be able to submit a national climate plan on 12 May, because there is a delay on the Flemish side, » says Crucke.
Crucke is in control that the new delay will not have any consequences for our country. However, the infringement procedure that the European Commission has started can ultimately lead to a conviction by the Court of Justice, and therefore also a fine.
New timing
According to him, the cause lies in Flanders. There it is up to Flemish Minister for Climate Melissa Depraetere (Vooruit) to find support for new climate measures at the Coalition partners N-VA and CD&V.
Flanders currently only achieves 33.7 percent emission reduction by 2030 (and that can cost many hundreds of millions of)
Crucke says he has « every confidence » that Depraetere will get the new timing.
The cabinet of Minister Depraetere himself would rather not respond extensively. « There is delay because the previous Flemish government has never made a plan, » says there.
