Flood debris on show in Brussels to highlight climate crisis

With the COP29 United Nations global climate change conference in Baku, Azerbaijan finishing this Friday, concentrating on climate finance, and as Belgium’s budget discussions are not proving positive for the environment, the country’s Climate Coalition is highlighting that “the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of action”.

“The climate and environmental crises require massive investment, particularly in the renovation and insulation of our buildings, sustainable mobility and the transformation of our industrial base,” the group said.

“With this in mind, the European Commission has taken the first step towards opening infringement proceedings against Belgium [and several other European Union countries] for the late submission of its energy and climate plan.

"So it’s high time that we took the second step and put in place solid climate policies. However, Belgium now seems to be relegating climate to second place in its budget."

The coalition led a symbolic action at the top of the Mont des Arts in Brussels last week, displaying debris from the floods in Poland and Brazil that left hundreds dead and thousands displaced.

"Whether in Belgium, Poland, Spain, the Philippines or Brazil, we are already suffering the human and financial consequences of our inaction,” the Coalition’s Alixe Anciaux said.

“Despite the urgency, the Walloon and Flemish governments are reluctant to release additional funds for climate and biodiversity policies. Indeed, the federal negotiators are even considering reducing Belgium’s contribution to international funding for the fight against climate change.

“The problem is not a shortage of funds, but a lack of political courage to use these funds properly,” Anciaux added.

“The money should be spent on climate solutions, not on polluting practices. Let’s not forget that Belgium continues to spend €15 billion every year on fossil fuel subsidies.”

The Coalition also noted that the World Economic Forum estimates that the impact of climate change will reach “10% of our global economy by 2050 if we do not invest today in climate and nature protection measures. For Belgium, this means an imminent loss of €9.5 billion if no significant action is taken.”

Exposing the debris aimed to make the public and the Belgian government more aware of the situation, explained Climate Coalition president Benjamin Clarisse.

“Climate disasters will only become more frequent and intense,” he said.

For Julie Beckers, from the Peps at Pepinster group, which represents the town near Verviers where so many homes were damaged or destroyed by summer 2021’s violent floods, action was essential given the recent extreme rain events: “In Pepinster, many residents still have to live in houses with bare walls.”

Belgium’s Climate Coalition brings together a wide range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions and citizens’ movements from all over the country.

These 100 associations have been campaigning since 2008 for “fair and necessary measures to tackle climate change… lobbying political decision-makers for strong measures and mobilising a broad public for a fair and climate-friendly society.”