May 11, 2023 - l'Européenne de Bruxelles

Carbon neutral is just a decoy

May 11, 2023 1073 views

Companies are increasingly capitalising on consumers’ climate sensitivity and the willingness to pay more for products with sustainable labels. Yet experts are raising the alarm that many of these labels are, in fact, misleading. More manufacturers are branding their products with a ‘carbon neutral’ logo to mark that “all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been offset.” However, consumer protection organisation Test-Achats and climate think tank Carbon Market Watch are arguing it constitutes greenwashing. “A carbon-neutral claim on a product gives the impression that the product has no impact on the…

With cheaper energy… bills will grow

May 11, 2023 1073 views

Half a million households will see their temporary entitlement to a social tariff expire from 1 July, which could result in a sharp hike in their energy bills. The social tariff offers reduced energy prices to certain vulnerable households, such as people who receive a disability allowance. During the pandemic, the government temporarily expanded the tariff to include around 500,000 people, including people with increased social security benefits. The support was again extended multiple times during last year’s energy crisis. This extension also now applies to those who benefit from…

Belgium has no mood to vote

May 11, 2023 1073 views

People in Belgium will first be heading to the polling booths for the Federal elections in May next year, but a few months later they will have to turn up again to cast their vote for the local elections. In Flanders, however, many residents are anything but enthusiastic about the prospect: an opinion poll showed that 30% of voters in the region will ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ not go to the polling booth. While the overall turnout is likely to fall sharply next October, the effect varies greatly from party to…

Politicians and activists demand responsible climate funds spending

May 11, 2023 1077 views

”The European billions for the climate transition must go to the right people, ” write Benjamin Clarysse (policy coordinator Bond Beter Leefmilieu), Vanya Verschoore (General Coordinator Reset.Flanders), Heidi Degerickx (General Coordinator Network Against Poverty), Dirk Masquillier (chairman SAAMO), Joeri Thijs (spokesperson Greenpeace), Peter Wouters (chairman Beweging.Net), Dirk Holemans (General Coordinator Oikos), Anton Gerits (General Coordinator REScoop Vlaanderen) and Leen Van Waes (General Coordinator Masereelfonds) in an opinion piece. A lot of ink has already flowed about the costs for citizens due to the new European carbon price. But what our…