Belgium now has a new Government. Prime Minister Alexander de Croo’s administration strongly supports the European Commission’s proposed emission reduction target of at least 55% for 2030 and has hinted at beefing up the country’s climate and energy ambitions. Tinne Van der Straeten from the Greens (Groen) is appointed as the new federal Energy Minister.

The Government is a fact after over a year of back-to-back government formation talks between various Belgian political parties. It now contains 7 parties in the so-called “Vivaldi Coalition” amongst which the Greens, Socialists, Liberals and Flemish Christian Democrats. Brussels politician Tinne Van der Straeten, climate and energy lawyer by background, will oversee the energy portfolio.

The new Government’s draft coalition agreement has a strong focus on climate and energy policies. It backs the European Commission’s proposed goal for a higher 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target of at least 55%. It reconfirms the goal of gradual nuclear phase-out by 2025. To do so the Government envisages more renewable energy and adapting the 2030 National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) accordingly.

Today Belgium has 2.3 GW of onshore wind capacity and 1.6 GW of offshore wind capacity. To accommodate for a target of 55% or higher greenhouse gas reduction, the coalition agreement foresees to expand onshore wind capacity in Flanders to 2.5 GW up from 1.3 GW today and in Wallonia to 4,600 GWh up from 1,500 GWh by 2030. It will also aim to double the country’s offshore wind capacity to 4 GW in the next decade by exploring the potential for additional capacity in the North Sea.