The healthcare sector generates 5% of Belgium's total CO2 emissions and faces pressure to decarbonize, according to a recent report by federal environmental administrators. This analysis, reported by Le Soir and De Tijd, reveals hospitals, care homes, pharmacies, and home care services emitted approximately 9,901 kilotons of CO2 equivalent last year, with projections indicating this figure could surge by over 60% by 2050.
Experts warn this uptick contradicts the need for rapid emissions reductions to meet EU targets for carbon neutrality by 2050. The report lays out various strategies aimed at cutting healthcare sector emissions by 73% relative to current policies by mid-century. The proposal emphasizes urgent changes to energy consumption, operational practices, and waste management.
Significantly, hospitals and outpatient facilities contribute the lion's share of healthcare emissions. Experts recommend improving building energy efficiency through measures such as insulating walls, roofs, and floors, along with transitioning to electric fleets and heating systems powered by renewable energy. These steps could cut the sector's carbon footprint dramatically.
Operational inefficiencies also play a role. The report notes an alarming 30% to 50% of medications go to waste, meaning efforts to reduce overprescription could yield substantial savings—around 20% less should be purchased. Similarly, nearly half of the meals prepared at healthcare facilities go uneaten, pointing to the potential for a 21% reduction in food waste by 2050.
On another front, Belgium is making strides to promote electric vehicles (EVs). Last year saw the number of public charging stations soar nearly 50% to over 22,000, according to the Belgian Mobility Dashboard (BMD). Nevertheless, the placement of these stations is uneven—Flanders dominates the installation with 17,335, whereas Wallonia and Brussels lag, with 2,799 and 1,903 respectively.
Pieter Timmermans, the head of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises (VBO), noted the shift to greener vehicles is now "irreversible," yet acknowledged the regional imbalance poses challenges, particularly for Wallonia. "Wallonia, for example, clearly faces a challenge in terms of charging infrastructure," he stated, emphasizing the need for more investments across the regions.
Encouragingly, the transition is reflected in vehicle registration statistics—with new registrations falling overall by 4.7% last year. While diesel vehicles and plug-in hybrids saw sharp declines, registrations of battery-electric vehicles surged by 37%, driven largely by businesses investing in company cars. This is noteworthy as 86% of newly registered electric vehicles are company cars, spurred by tax incentives set to take effect from 2026, which will allow only new electric company cars to be tax-deductible.
These developments showcase Belgium's dual approach to tackling climate change: addressing emissions from one of its largest sectors, healthcare, and simultaneously enhancing the infrastructure necessary for widespread adoption of electric vehicles. Both initiatives highlight the urgent need for sustainable practices as the country strives toward meeting environmental targets.
Looking forward, the challenge remains significant. With the healthcare sector's growing emissions projected to rise at odds with sustainability goals, and the need for equitable distribution of EV infrastructure across Belgium's regions, stakeholders must coordinate efforts to facilitate transformational changes. The road to carbon neutrality is laden with hurdles, but the steps being proposed are pivotal for ensuring a greener future for all Belgians.