Belgian Climate Centre

Prof. Daniela Perrotti of UCLouvain will co-lead the ‘Policy & Action’ section of the 2025 European State of the Climate report by Copernicus C3S @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social. An important milestone for Belgian climate science.
#ESOTC #ClimateScience @belspo.be
🔗https://climate.copernicus.eu/esotc

European nations are rethinking water policies as climate pressures rise. Belgium’s coastal and urban zones face major flood and salinity risks, prompting measures like Flanders’ watertoets and stronger citizen involvement. #ClimateAdaptation #WaterManagement
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.ej...

Do climate marches have impact? Science says yes. They move politicians, shift media coverage, and influence votes. Speaking of action: Brussels climate march Sunday:
👉 coalitionclimat.be/marche-climat
🔗 Study: doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2025.101498

Excited to welcome Dr Vincent Calay to the EQUAL TIP project at ULB & Belgian Climate Centre! His expertise will help explore how societal tipping points can drive a just climate transition for Belgium by 2050. #JustTransition #ClimateAction
🔗 www.climatecentre.be/projects/syn...

Cities can act more like sponges. A KULeuven study shows green roofs, permeable pavements & rain tanks cut flood risks and boost groundwater, helping against both floods and droughts. A local campus becomes a lab for climate resilience.
#ClimateAdaptation #UrbanResilience
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.ej...

Europe’s seas are heating twice as fast as the global ocean, with major risks for coasts, marine life and economies. Findings from the 9th Copernicus Ocean State Report by @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social, @copernicusmarine.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.5194/sp-6...

Thrilled to welcome Dr Laura Boeschoten to the CLOVER project at UGent & the BCC. Her work explores how a climate overshoot could affect forests & the carbon cycle, helping to shape science-based resilience strategies. @lauraboeschoten.bsky.social
www.climatecentre.be/projects/syn...

'Milieuzorg op school schrappen? De botte bijl van Jo Brouns bedreigt duurzaam onderwijs in Vlaanderen' Vlaanderen is internationaal niet zo heel bekend, maar op sommige vlakken steken we boven het maaiveld uit. Vanuit onze rol als onderwijsonderzoekers zien

Researchers from Belgian universities warn that scrapping MOS Vlaanderen to save €2.5M risks undermining sustainability education. They stress teacher support is vital for climate literacy and future generations. #SustainabilityEducation #ClimateLiteracy
🔗 www.knack.be/nieuws/belgi...

Yesterday at our Climate Cookies & Coffee seminar, Joppe Massant (UGent) showed how AI + ESA/NASA satellites reconstruct 3D clouds in real time, sharpening climate modelling and extreme-weather monitoring.
#ClimateCookiesAndCoffee #ClimateScience #AI #Clouds
🔗 www.climatecentre.be/events-1/ai-...

Belgium cuts emissions & ranks 4th in EU for circular economy (19.7%) but needs faster renewable energy growth to hit 2030 targets. Marine protection exceeds goals whilst land conservation lags. Mixed progress on climate action.
🔗 www.eea.europa.eu/en/europe-en...

🌱 Harnessing soil diversity with nature-based solutions can cut flood peaks by up to 30% in Wallonia’s farmed catchments, while boosting drought resilience. Tailoring strategies to soil traits proves key for #ClimateAction in Belgium #NbS #FloodRisk
🔗https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-29-4661-2025

State of Europe’s environment not good: threats to nature and impacts of climate change top challenges Significant progress has been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but the overall state of Europe’s environment is not good, especially its nature which continues to face degr...

🌍🚨 Europe’s environment 2025 is out now, and the conclusions are sobering:

⚠️ Europe’s environment is in poor shape. Nature continues to degrade, biodiversity is declining, and Europe is warming faster than any other region.

www.eea.europa.eu/en/newsroom/...

#EuropesEnvironment2025

Why do we make eco-unfriendly choices? A UCLouvain study explores the 'moral disengagement' or mental excuses we use. Paradoxically, the excuse 'I compensate for this elsewhere' is most common among people who generally act more sustainably.
🔗 doi.org/10.1177/0013...

🐚 The 2025 Planetary Health Check is out: we've crossed the ocean acidification boundary for the first time. This brings the total to 7 of 9 planetary boundaries now breached, threatening marine life that relies on shell formation. #PlanetaryBoundaries
🔗 doi.org/10.48485/pik...

Join the next #ClimateCookiesAndCoffee seminar on 30 Sept at 14:00 at Belgian Climate Centre with Joppe Massant (Universiteit Gent, H-CEL) on AI & satellite data for cloud modelling. Register by 24/09.
🔗 Info & registration: www.climatecentre.be/events-1/ai-...

Climate change could damage Belgian economy by up to 5 per cent by 2050, study warns Climate change could cause significant damage to the Belgian economy: up to 5 per cent of gross domestic product could be lost by 2050. This is...

📉 Climate change could cut Belgium’s GDP by 5% by 2050, 12% in disaster years, says Fed Planning Bureau & Climate Risk Centre. Coping will cost as much as ageing.
🔗 www.belganewsagency.eu/climate-change-could-damage-belgian-economy-by-up-to-5-per-cent-by-2050-study-warns

The US President called climate change a 'green energy scam' and UN predictions 'wrong'. But the IPCC has concluded that humans caused warming, models proved accurate, and renewables are now the cheapest power source. #FactCheck
🔗 edition.cnn.com/2025/09/23/politics/fact-check-un-speech-claims-trump

📢 We've launched a LinkedIn group for early-career climate researchers in Belgium! 🤝 It's your hub for jobs, funding & events. All our specific news for you will be shared there, so don't miss out. Join us!
#EarlyCareerResearchers #ClimateScience #BelgiumResearch
🔗 www.linkedin.com/groups/14941...

📢 Calling Belgian experts! Help shape the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change & Cities. Review the first draft from 17 Oct to 12 Dec. Your input ensures the science is robust. Register by 30 Nov. with @ipcc.bsky.social | @belspo.be
🔗 www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

How do courts handle the Paris Agreement? A study of 148 cases shows they often ‘avoid’ the topic. But ‘alignment’ is a powerful tool. In 🇧🇪 Klimaatzaak case, the court ordered stronger emission cuts, showing how litigation can advance climate goals. @klimaatzaak.bsky.social
🔗 doi.org/10.1017/S204...

DEEPIN - Deep Industrial greenhouse gas reductions in Belgium The DEEPIN — Deep Industrial greenhouse gas reductions in Belgium report is authored by BSoG-VUB researchers Tomas Wyns, Stijn Van der Perre and Gauri Khandekar.

🏭 A VUB report shows Belgian industry can cut emissions by 90% by 2040. Key steps are electrifying heat and using carbon capture. But the next 5 years are crucial for building CO₂ and power grid infrastructure. Action is needed now. #ClimateAction #Belgium
🔗 www.brussels-school.be/research/pub...

🕷 A Belgian study from ULiège & partners on Tick-Borne Encephalitis in students finds very low exposure (0.48%) in a rising-risk area. A key finding as climate change alters disease patterns, highlighting the need for awareness and prevention.
🔗 doi.org/10.3390/v170...

🌱 Researchers at UGent developed MADI to analyse plant health under climate stress. It shows leaf temperature can rise 4°C in a drought, an early warning. It also identifies plant 'compactness' as a simple but key stress indicator. #AgriTech
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.pl...

✨ We’re looking for a new leader to help guide our dedicated team into the next chapter. If you’re excited by science, climate, and people, this could be for you!
⏳ Applications close Monday – just 5⃣️ days left!
Apply here:
👉 FR: travaillerpour.be/fr/jobs/cfg2...
👉 NL: werkenvoor.be/nl/jobs/cng2...

Heatwaves, droughts and floods reduce regional prosperity and population. Local adaptation matters.
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.eu...

What does a #JustTransition mean to Belgian stakeholders? Research from the Université libre de Bruxelles maps four competing visions: Holistic, Workers-Centred, Social-Ecological State & Business-Centred. A consensus on participation, but deep divides on economic change.
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.ec...

🧬 As Arctic shipping surges due to climate change, what’s arriving with the ships? A study in 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘉𝘪𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺 used eDNA to find the first traces of the invasive bay barnacle in Arctic Canada. A critical early warning for this fragile ecosystem. #Arctic #eDNA
🔗 doi.org/10.1111/gcb....

Calling all climate experts! The call for abstracts for the Belgian Science for Climate Action conference (17-18 March) is open. We're looking for research on achieving a just, climate-neutral Belgium. Deadline: 15 Oct
Submit: events.spacepole.be/event/247
Conference: www.scienceforclimateaction.be

🎭 How can theatre tackle climate adaptation conflicts? A study in Urban Studies explores using drama labs to navigate disputes. In Genk, a ‘funeral for parking spaces’ helped locals process changes for water management. A creative approach from @UAntwerpen.be researchers:
🔗 doi.org/10.1177/0042...

Great for our SciComm Manager, Roberta, to attend #BePolar2025. 💡The focus on human health, geopolitics & outreach shows why linking polar research to climate policy is vital. A key area for the 🇧🇪 Belgian science community. #PolarScience
🔗 www.apecsbelgium.com/events/be-po...