To mark World Climate Day on Friday 8 December, the Brussels Regional Government is stepping up its climate action by supporting some 30 local projects by municipalities to create a carbon-neutral region, announced Brussels Minister for Climate Transition Alain Maron.
Only by working together with all the actors involved will the Brussels-Capital Region succeed in achieving the climate objectives it set itself in the Air, Climate and Energy Plan: carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 47% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 (compared to 2005).
The target, set by Europe, is in line with the European Green Deal and contributes to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% at the European level. "The fight against climate change is being waged at all levels, from local to international, at COP28. I will attend [the conference] from tomorrow with the determination to ensure that an ambitious voice on climate action will resonate," Maron stated.
"We must turn our world-in-the-making around if we want it to remain liveable. To do so, we must work together and join forces to provide a response that is up to the challenge."
Teamwork
The Brussels Government has placed climate at the centre of its project with a clear ambition: to free the Capital Region from its dependence on fossil fuels and better prepare it for the consequences of climate disruption.
To achieve this, the Region wants to mobilise all levels of government and all layers of society: the inhabitants of Brussels, businesses, associations and public institutions, starting with the municipalities.
Therefore, Maron is allocating nearly €4 million in support of the actions of the municipalities, which complement and reinforce the region's climate action. "Together, we have already reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by almost 30% (2022 compared to 2005). And we will, of course, continue our efforts to make Brussels more sustainable, more pleasant to live in and more united."
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In 2020, Bruxelles Environnement launched a 'Climate Action' call for projects for municipalities, which gained growing success. In four years, 18 municipalities adopted a climate action programme at all levels: waste reduction, greening, sustainable trade, low-emission mobility, etc.
Besides supporting municipalities in developing these programmes, the Brussels Region also financed the implementation of about 150 concrete projects for a total amount of almost €15 million.
This year, 35 of the 59 submitted projects were selected: four focusing on mobility, seven 'Good Food' projects, ten 'Zero Waste' and 14 'Nature in the City' projects. "All these projects share the same goal: to take action here and now, each at its own level, to make Brussels greener and better adapted to climate disruption," Maron concluded.
