To mark the start of the United Nations climate summit in Katowice on 3 December, a climate march will take to the streets of Brussels on 2 December. By joining the march on 2 December, the sustainable energy federations APERe, Belgian Offshore Platform (BOP), EDORA and ODE want to emphasise their ability and desire to make an important contribution to Belgium’s becoming climate-neutral.

Protecting our planet may be a global challenge, but each country has a duty to take urgent and decisive measures to push back climate change. A recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns of the consequences if the climate target of keeping global warming to a maximum of 1.5 C° is not met. According to the IPCC, unless policy changes, we are already set to exceed the 1.5 C° some time between 2030 and 2052.

APERe, BOP, EDORA, and ODE are marching along to highlight the importance of an environmentally friendly and climate-neutral energy supply for Belgium.

To tackle the climate challenge, the development of renewable energy projects needs to be accelerated. Renewable energy is an essential cornerstone of a climate-neutral and environmentally friendly energy supply. Solar and wind energy, in combination with controllable renewable energy such as biomass and hydropower, form the foundations of a sustainable energy system.

The renewable energy sector has already made a significant contribution to the fight against climate change. By 2020, renewable energy sources must meet 13% of Belgium’s demand for energy. That share could rise to 30% in 2030.

It is high time that a sustainable energy and climate policy be put at the top of the political agenda. Sustainable energy companies in Belgium are ready and willing to support an ambitious and effective climate policy. Let’s change our energy, not our climate!

CONTACT:
EDORA: Fawaz Al Bitar, Secretary-General ad interim, +32 (0)496 122 231 – falbitar@edora.be
BOP: Annemie Vermeylen, Secretary-General, +32 (0)478 500 115 – av@belgianoffshoreplatform.be
L’APERe: Benjamin Wilkin, Secretary-General, +32 (0)477 401 386 – bwilkin@apere.org
ODE: Bram Claeys, Secretary-General, +32 (0)474 594 670 – bram.claeys@ode.be