In 2023, CO₂ emissions from major industry and aviation in our country saw a significant decrease of more than 10 percent, marking the largest drop since the financial crisis. This decline can be attributed to the slowdown in the industry. At the European level, the decline was even more pronounced, at 15.5 percent.
Energy-intensive companies in our country emitted 4.26 million tons less of greenhouse gases compared to the previous year, representing a reduction of 10.5 percent. This figure is measured in CO₂ equivalents, which takes into account the impact of all greenhouse gases converted into CO₂ impact. The decline was largely due to high energy prices and weak demand leading many industrial companies to reduce production, as well as improvements in energy efficiency by some companies.
The European Emissions Trading System (ETS) includes major cement and steel producers, chemical installations, refineries, power stations, and intra-European airlines. Companies falling under ETS must provide an emission allowance for every ton of emissions they produce, which is recorded in the greenhouse gas register. In Belgium, over 280 industrial installations and power plants are subject to emissions trading, along with intra-European flights, representing around 40 percent of all CO₂ emissions in the country.
Despite a 77 percent increase in production in the chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceutical sectors since 2004, greenhouse gas emissions remained stable due to efforts by some companies to improve their energy efficiency.
Furthermore