A significant decrease in CO₂ emissions from major industries and aviation in our country has been recorded last year, marking the largest drop since the financial crisis. This decline can be attributed to the slowdown in industry. Companies under the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) 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. At the European level, the decline was even more pronounced, at 15.5 percent.
The decline in emissions is largely attributed to high energy prices and weak demand leading many industrial companies to reduce production. The chemical sector saw a decline in production capacity, reaching its lowest level ever in 2023. Despite a 77 percent increase in production in the chemicals, plastics, and pharmaceutical sectors since 2004, greenhouse gas emissions remained stable. Additionally, two large industrial installations were shut down for maintenance last year. The industry has also been focusing on producing energy more efficiently, contributing to the overall decrease in emissions.
Over 280 industrial installations and power plants are subject to emissions trading in Belgium along with intra-European flights, representing around 40 percent of all CO₂ emissions in the country. These figures pertain to companies under ETS that include major cement and steel producers, chemical installations, refineries, power stations and intra-European airlines who must provide an emission allowance for every ton of emissions they produce which is recorded in the greenhouse gas register.