Forthcoming policy developments

Flemish policy frameworks are taking shape within a broader European policy framework. Below, we present two policy plans that will shape policy developments in Flanders in the coming period. One is a plan that aims to reduce climate change, and the other is a plan that aims to prepare us for the effects of climate change. 

Flemish Energy and Climate Plan (VEKP) (2021-2030)
This is a cross-cutting plan that forms the basis for Flemish energy and climate policy for the period 2021-2030. Although this plan starts in 2021, it was updated and finally approved by the Flemish government in 2025. The central objective is to reduce greenhouse gases in the ESR sectors (sectors not covered by the EU ETS, such as transport, buildings, agriculture, and small industry) by 40% in 2030 compared to 2005. This is reported on annually and involves cross-cutting cooperation with various ministers and stakeholders. The VEKA (Flemish Energy and Climate Agency) is responsible for coordinating this plan. 

The Flemish Climate Adaptation Plan
In October 2022 the Flemish government agreed on the Flemish Climate Adaptation Plan. This plan aims to get a picture of how vulnerable Flanders is to climate change, to increase Flanders' resilience to the effects of climate change and to adapt as well as possible to the expected effects. The Department of Environment is in charge of coordinating the climate adaptation plan.

Ongoing debates

The Flemish Youth Council on the Flemish Energy and Climate Plan (VEPK) 
The Flemish Youth Council continues to be active in its representative and advisory work on this theme. For example, it was asked to provide advice on the latest update of the above-mentioned VEPK. The Flemish Youth Council pointed out that it is important to come up with a national plan, but that the different objectives and priorities of the regions make this difficult. In their advice, they emphasize a number of points, such as the need to address the exacerbation of existing inequalities due to climate change, a structural approach to energy poverty, and a tax system that tackles the actual polluters. Finally, they also highlight the importance of making youth infrastructure future-proof.