Environment at a Glance: Belgium
Table of contents
The OECD Environment at a Glance Country Notes are designed to support transparent, evidence-based information. They provide concise and descriptive overview of progress across major environmental issues, including climate, air quality, freshwater resources, waste and the circular economy, and biodiversity conservation. They feature selected environmental indicators, building on harmonised datasets available on OECD Data Explorer. Differences with national data sources can occur due to delays in data treatment and publication, or due to different national definitions and measurement methods. See the Reader’s guide to the Environment at a Glance Country Notes for more information.
Belgium is a small but open economy characterised by strong international and regional interdependence. With limited exploitable natural resources beyond forests, it depends heavily on external markets for energy and raw materials. Economic activity was moderate but steady in the five years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a sharp contraction in 2020, the economy rebounded in 2021. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person and population density are high. Road infrastructure is dense and the Antwerp port is among the busiest in Europe. Although its share in the economy has declined, industry remains important particularly chemicals, food products, basic metals and fabricated metal products.
Belgium is a federal state with four levels of government: federal, regional, provincial and municipal and three linguistic communities. Environmental competences are largely decentralised to the regions: Flanders, Wallonia and the Brussels‑Capital Region. They are responsible for the rational use of energy, the promotion of renewable energy, public transport, non-rail transport infrastructure, land use planning, agriculture and environmental services (water supply, wastewater and municipal waste management). Regions delegate significant authority to provinces (in the Flemish and Walloon regions) and to municipalities, notably for land-use planning, permitting and environmental services. The federal government is responsible for energy security and nuclear energy, marine protection and offshore windfarms, energy taxation, product policies and the co‑ordination of international environmental policy.
The per person production-based (i.e. produced within the territory) and demand-based (or footprint, i.e. including emissions incorporated in imported goods) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been steadily declining since 1995, and are now just below the OECD averages. Demand-based emissions are higher than production-based ones, meaning that Belgium is a net importer of GHG emissions embodied in its final demand (i.e. demand for goods and services by all residents).
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fuel combustion have decoupled from economic growth and total energy supply, thanks to increased use of gaseous fuels and decreased use of liquid and solid fuels, which led to a less carbon-intensive energy mix. Other factors that played a role are improved energy efficiency and structural changes of the economy (fewer energy-intensive industries such as steel, and more value added in sectors with lower energy intensity, such as services and trade).
GHG emissions (excluding land use, land-use change and forestry – LULUCF) have decreased by 33.9% since 2000. The largest contributor to total emissions is CO2, accounting for 87.2% of the total in 2024. The transport sector is the largest emitter, representing 25% of the total in 2024, followed by the residential sector (20%), industrial processes (16%), energy industries (15%), industrial combustion (13.3%) and agriculture (8%).
Emissions from the manufacturing of solid fuels have decreased due to the closure of coke plants. The emission decrease from public electricity and heat generation is due to technological improvements, an increased number of combined heat-power installations, and the switch from solid fuels (coal) to gaseous fuels (natural gas) and renewable fuels. However, emissions intensity has increased significantly in recent years due to a decrease in biomass quantities following the shutdown of a pellet-fired power plant in Flanders in 2023. The increasing share of transportation is mainly due to the increasing vehicle fleet. The main emission sources from the industrial processes sector are the chemical, mineral and metal industries. Like in many other countries, the main source of agricultural emissions is enteric fermentation. The LULUCF sector is a marginal carbon sink (Belgium, 2026).
Belgium has limited domestic energy resources and is highly dependent on other countries for its energy supply. National production is mainly composed of nuclear and energy from renewable fuels and waste, whose share is rising. The share of nuclear is among the highest in the OECD. Fossil fuels represent 74% of total energy supply. Energy intensities are above the OECD average due to Belgium strong manufacturing base with several energy-intensive sectors (e.g. chemicals, refining and iron and steel). Renewables represented 11.2% of total energy supply and 39.3% of electricity output in 2025.
Since 2000 emissions from all sources have decreased by more than half for most major pollutants, except for ammonia (NH3) and fine particulates (PM2.5) from agriculture and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) from residential combustion. Belgium reached its 2020 Gothenburg Protocol objectives for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), NMVOC and ammonia (NH3) emissions.
Emissions from road transport decreased due to greater use of catalytic converters, particulate filters and other technical measures in passenger cars, and to a road charge for heavy vehicles that also stimulated the renewal of the vehicle fleet. Emissions were reduced in electricity production and industry due to switching to gaseous fuels and use of end-of-pipe technologies. Both voluntary agreements and emission caps were used. Emissions from heating appliances were reduced thanks to fuel switching and more stringent legislation. Emissions from new stoves and other appliances are regulated, while older stoves continue to generate a large share of emissions. Other factors that played a role in emission reductions include the 2009 economic crisis, which resulted in an important slowdown of industrial activity (shutdown of the hot iron and steel industry; shutdown of two lines of glass production) and in reduced power plant activity. All pollutant emission intensities are below the OECD and OECD Europe averages.
Emission reductions went on par with air quality improvements. The level of exposure of the population to PM2.5 concentrations decreased over time, but remains above the 2021 guideline value of 5 µg/m3 recommended by the World Health Organization.
Belgium is relatively poorly endowed with freshwater resources, given also its high population density. Water resources are unevenly distributed between the north and the south. As a result, the country is under moderate to medium-high water stress. Per person annual abstractions of freshwater for public supply are well below the OECD average and have stabilised since 2008.
Since 2007, the network of wastewater treatment plants has been extended. Most wastewater is treated in plants with tertiary (“advanced”) treatment. In 2024, 13.5% of the population was connected to an independent treatment and 3.4% were not connected to public sewerage treatment.
Belgium has reduced the amount of municipal waste generated since a peak in 2007 and achieved an absolute decoupling from economic and population growth. The increase in 2020 is due to the inclusion of metal and inert materials recycled in a mechanical-biological treatment facility in the Flanders. The municipal waste recovery rates (recycling, composting and incineration with energy recovery) are high, having already reached 78% of the amounts treated in 2000 compared to 36% on average in OECD-Europe countries. This low rate of disposal is due to a landfill ban on untreated waste (including biodegradable municipal waste), in force since 2007. Landfill taxes increased considerably in Flanders and Wallonia, where landfill infrastructure is located.
Belgium extracts most of its domestic material consumption (DMC) which, as in most OECD countries, is dominated by non-metallic minerals. However, due to its location as a transit country and its open economy, international material flows are greater than materials consumed domestically. Belgium exports large amounts of fossil energy, biomass and metals.
DMC has declined under the combined effect of lower consumption of construction materials and of metals since 2016. This drop in consumption of metals was due to the renewal of the fleet of a shipping company. The company sold part of its fleet and invested in new vessels, which led to an increase in imports of metal products, but also to an even greater increase in exports. Consumption of fossil energy declined until 2014 but has increased in 2017 and 2018 and since 2022 because of rising gas imports. As GDP and population increased, the material intensities decreased while productivity increased. The material footprint remains about four times the material intensity.
Agricultural land occupies the largest part of the territory and has remained relatively stable since 2005. Pressures from urbanisation and fragmentation of land and intensive agricultural practices are high and result in significant biodiversity loss.
Belgium is home to about 55 000 species. The share of threatened species is high in particular for reptiles, amphibians and birds. The most frequently identified pressures on species are agricultural intensification, habitat fragmentation and the resulting loss of connectivity, pollution (especially eutrophication), land take and forestry intensification.
More efforts are needed to meet the 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) target to protect at least 30% of land area. On the other hand, Belgium far exceeded the 30% target for coastal and marine areas. Terrestrial and marine areas designated as “Protected Landscapes and Seascapes with sustainable use of natural resources” have increased substantially over the past two decades. However, only a limited number of sites have strict management objectives (IUCN categories I and II).
This section shows selected policy instruments based on data available for most OECD countries and does not provide a complete overview of countries’ policy mix to achieve their environment-related objectives. Interpretation should consider the country specific context.
Revenue from environmentally related taxes has remained relatively stable since 2010, both as a share of GDP and of total tax revenue. The share in GDP is above the OECD average and is comparable to the OECD-Europe average. As in many countries, most receipts come from taxes on energy products and on transport. Taxes on pollution, such as landfill, generate most of the remaining. Revenue from energy taxes rose between 2013 and 2017, mostly due to increased diesel taxation. The relative shares of different tax bases (energy, natural resources, pollution and transport) have not evolved.
In total, 75.7% of GHG emissions in Belgium were subject to a positive Net Effective Carbon Rate1 (ECR) in 2023. Explicit carbon prices in Belgium consist of emissions trading system (ETS) permit prices, which cover 32.9% of GHG emissions in CO2 equivalent. Fuel excise taxes, an implicit form of carbon pricing, covered 46.3% of emissions in 2023. Direct fossil fuel subsidies covered 1.4% of emissions. About 53% of GHG emissions have a Net ECR above EUR 60 per tonne of CO2 equivalent, a mid-range estimate of current carbon costs. Net ECRs are highest in the road transport sector, which accounts for 20.7% of the country’s total GHG emissions. The Net ECR is on average positive in all sectors (OECD, 2024).
The share of environmentally related public research and development (R&D) budget has been declining in the past two decades, from over 3% in 2000 to less than 1% in 2024. The share of renewable energy in total public energy research, demonstration and development (RD&D) budget has also been declining, albeit at fluctuating rates, to reach 7% in 2024.
The share of environmentally related inventions filed for protection by resident inventors in Belgium has been increasing since 2000, to then stabilise at around the OECD average in recent years.
Belgium’s development co-operation prioritises least developed countries and fragile contexts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on basic services, climate action (mostly adaptation) and gender equality. It combines bilateral partnerships with a strong commitment to multilateralism and the European Union (EU). Belgium’s total official development assistance (ODA) (USD 2.7 billion, preliminary data) decreased in 2025, representing 0.37% of gross national income.
In 2023-24, Belgium committed 45.6% of its total bilateral allocable ODA in support of the environment and the Rio Conventions, up from 32.6% in 2021-2022 and above the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) average. Its share of ODA targeting biodiversity and desertification is higher than many other OECD countries and has been increasing in recent years (OECD, 2026).
References
Belgium. (2026). Belgium’s greenhouse gas inventory (1990-2024). Belgian Interregional Environment Agency (CELINE-IRCEL) et al. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/documents/656419
Hockings, M., & al, e. (2006). Evaluating Effectiveness. A framework for assessing management effectiveness of protected areas. 2nd Edition. IUCN. Retrieved from https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/PAG-014.pdf
OECD. (2024). Pricing Greenhouse Gas Emissions 2024: Gearing Up to Bring Emissions Down. OECD Series on Carbon Pricing and Energy Taxation, OECD Publishing, Paris. doi:10.1787/b44c74e6-en
OECD. (2026). Development Co-operation Profiles. OECD Publishing, Paris. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/development-co-operation-profiles_04b376d7-en/belgium_61c41549-en.html
Further readings
CBD (2022), Country profiles: Belgium, https://www.cbd.int/countries/profile/?country=be
OECD (2021), OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Belgium 2021, OECD Environmental Performance Reviews, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/738553c5-en.
UNEP-WCMC (2024), “Protected Area Profile for Belgium”, the World Database of Protected Areas, www.protectedplanet.net
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← 1. Effective Carbon Rate (ECR) is the sum of fuel excise taxes, carbon taxes and tradeable permits that effectively put a price on carbon emissions. The Net ECR equals the ECR minus fossil fuel subsidies that decrease pre-tax fossil fuel prices.