Port of Brussels plans to be CO2 neutral by next year

The port will work to compensate when the reduction of emissions to zero is impossible in certain areas. Such measures already taken include planting trees and contributing to ecological projects in the developing world.

The port has also offered incentives to employees to use bicycles and public transport to come to work and has placed solar panels on the roof of its buildings.

Its partners are also playing their part, Moens told Bruzz, by increasing the amount of freight carried by water. “In the past, most companies brought their freight from Antwerp to Brussels by lorry, but they are more and more often coming by canal,” he said.

The port authority is also working with the company CityDepot, based in the port area, which takes goods on the “last mile” from the port to the customer in the city by shuttle bus.

“An increasing number of our clients are taking CO2-neutrality very seriously,” Moens said. “For instance, cement and concrete company Holcim is already CO2-neutral.”

The capital’s environmental agency, Leefmilieu Brussel, could, he suggested, develop a label for companies who are CO2-neutral. “We can’t make it compulsory, but we can create leverage, such as tax breaks or lower rents,” he said. “These are areas that have to be looked into.”

Photo: Wim Bladt/Wikimedia