The new federal government agreement shows little ambition regarding nature, climate, and sustainability, says the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)'s Belgian chapter .
The environmental organisation specifically points to the weak measures in the coalition agreement for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies .
These measures, which Europe has demanded for years, are barely mentioned in the agreement, according to the WWF.
This oversight misses an opportunity to allocate €14 billion, which could have been invested in making Belgium's economy more sustainable, especially in times of budgetary constraints, the NGO added.
The text also remains very vague and lacking where the government’s international commitments to biodiversity are concerned.
In terms of nature restoration, the federal government states its intention to restore 20% of the country's marine areas. However, the European law on nature restoration is not mentioned in the agreement, the WWF noted.
The agreement also omits European legislation on deforestation, which could become a crucial tool in the global fight against deforestation, according to the NGO.
“This is particularly regrettable as this is the last federal government that will have the opportunity to make a difference for citizens, nature, and the climate by 2030,” said Julie Vandenberghe, WWF Belgium's Advocacy Director.
Nonetheless, several positive elements emerge from the agreement, according to the organisation.
These include maintaining offshore energy as a significant component of the current and future energy mix. It also mentions the development of an inter-federal action plan for extreme weather events, crisis management, and public awareness of climate change.
However, the WWF underscores that these positives “do not compensate for the absence of decisive action.”
