Carbon dioxide emissions in Belgium 1970-2021

Belgium produced 114.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO₂) emissions in 2021. This was an increase of nearly nine percent compared to 2020 levels, when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a reduction of the emissions due to the restrictions imposed.

Emission trends in Belgium

Annual CO₂ emissions in Belgium have fluctuated noticeably over the past 50 years. Emissions fell by roughly 27 percent between 1970 and 1983 to 109.3 MtCO₂, but by 1990 they had increased to 126.5 MtCO₂. Emissions increased in the following decade, and by 2000 they had risen to 136 MtCO₂. Annual emissions dropped to 109 million metric tons in 2014, but by 2018 they had increased by around 16 MtCO₂.

EU emission comparisons

Despite being one of Europe's smallest countries, Belgium is the seventh largest carbon polluter in the EU. Belgium also has one of the largest carbon footprints in the EU, producing the equivalent of 10.6 metric tons of CO₂ per capita. This is roughly half the per capita carbon footprint of neighboring Luxembourg.