The Federal Planning Bureau figures confirm it: “The nuclear exit catapults Belgium’s climate efforts back in time”

“These figures confirm the choice of the Vivaldi government to catapult us back in time with the nuclear phase-out in terms of CO2 emissions.” MP Bert Wollants draws the only possible conclusion from the figures published by the Federal Planning Bureau The Federal Planning Bureau (FPB) is a Belgian public agency which carries out studies and projections about economic, socio-economic and ecological policy issues. Its scientific expertise is at the disposal of the Government, Parliament, the social partners and the national and international institutions. Federal Planning Bureau on Thursday. According to the Planning Bureau, CO2 emissions will increase by more than 12% in 2026 compared to last year’s figures. In 2026, no less than 56% of our electricity would be generated from natural gas.

Ten years of climate policy swept away in one fell swoop

“Ten years of climate policy is swept away in one fell swoop because the Greens want to win the trophy for the nuclear exit and remain firmly committed to the construction of gas plants,” says energy expert Bert Wollants. “And that is while Minister Khattabi emphasised to the claimants in the Climate case last week that she wanted to do more for the climate.”

Energy sector CO2 emissions above 1990 level

The Vivaldi government’s ambition to emit less CO2 must therefore give way to green dogmas. At the same time, the figures are alarming, MP Bert Wollants warns. “In 2026, we will emit more than 121 megatonnes of CO2. That much CO2 has not been emitted since 2011. The emissions of the energy sector itself are even rising above the 1990 level. And all of this is actually happening under the rule of a green party.”

Only 13% of the population wants to replace nuclear power stations with gas-fired power stations

Finally, Bert Wollants also points to the total lack of support for the Vivaldi policy. A recent Kantar poll, commissioned by the Nuclear Forum, indicated that only 13% of the population thinks replacing nuclear power stations with gas-fired power stations is a good thing. The MP therefore wonders who will benefit from this. “More natural gas, more CO2, a higher cost price and hardly any support. The evaluation of the energy policy of Groen Minister Tinne Van der Straeten and this government is gradually becoming clear.”