Belgium Environmental Sustainability in the EU - Research Paper Example

As a member of the EU, Belgium complies with the energy policy and sustainable development policy of the EU (EREC, 2009). Since energy is the main source of climate change, the country regulates energy and electricity products so that the companies involved behave sustainably. For instance, the Energy Policy of Belgium which is split over various government levels awards green certificates to those companies that comply with the policies of environmental sustainability.

Non-renewable energy use in Belgium results in various externalities. The most known externality is greenhouse gas emission and its effect on climate change. This externality is caused mainly by the extraction and use of non-renewable energy in the oil and gas industries as well as the motor vehicle industry. It results in climate change. In 1990, gas emission in Belgium was recorded in terms of CO2 as 146 million tons (EREC, 2009). By 2012, CO2 emissions had reduced to 109,000 Mt. Belgium ratified the Kyoto Protocol of 2003 which sets a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 7.5% annually (EREC, 2009). Reduction of greenhouse gas enables the country to contribute towards the EU’s goals on climate change.

Another externality resulting from non-renewable energy is energy desertification and deforestation. Use of non-renewable energy sources leads to desertification and deforestation because it involves cutting down trees, clearance of land for the extraction of oil, and water pollution which kills plant and animal life.
One key aspect of solving climate change and other externalities of non-renewable energy sources is to use of renewable energy sources. 77% of the energy consumed in Belgium comes from fossil fuels while 21% comes from nuclear power (EREC, 2009). The main renewable sources of energy in the country are hydropower, wind power, and biomass. Biomass and Biogas were used to generate 3.5 TWh in 2009, representing 3.8% of the total domestic energy consumption.

Wind power is a fast-growing renewable energy source in Belgium. The use of wind power in Belgium depends on regional governments (Brussels-capital region, Walloon region, and Flemish region). Wind energy producers get green certificates. The current technology is made up of wind turbines in the windiest areas of the country. The wind turbines are mainly installed offshore. Onshore turbines have been installed only in the Walloon and Flemish regions. In 2012, the total number of operational wind turbines was 498, producing 1080 MW of electric power (EWEA, 2013). In 2014, 16% of the energy consumed in Belgium comes from wind power. Belgium targets to produce 13% of its electricity and heating energy from wind power by 2020. Of the targeted 17TWh renewable energy in Belgium by 2020, 47% is expected to come from Wind Power (EWEA, 2013). There is great potential for wind power sources of energy as the country offers green certificates as incentives for further development of renewable energy. However, this is affected by limited space for the development of onshore turbines.

Belgium still relies mainly on non-renewable energy. This has resulted in negative externalities including greenhouse emissions and climate change. These effects cause negative impacts on the sustainability of the environment; hence slowing the economic growth of the country. However, the growth of wind power in the past few years has brought optimism for enhancing renewable energy. With the green certifications provided by the Belgian energy policy department, there is great potential for enhancing environmental sustainability as a source of continuous economic growth in the future. Read More