Half of Belgians see climate change adaptation as national priority
Half of Belgians consider adaptation to climate change to be a national priority, according to the annual climate survey commissioned by the European Investment Bank and published on Monday.
In 2024, Belgium experienced severe weather, violent storms and intense heat. Against this backdrop, 94 per cent of the Belgian residents surveyed say there is a need to adapt to climate change, and 51 per cent consider it a priority for the coming years.
Belgians also see adapting to climate change as a long-term investment, according to the survey: 85 per cent say investing in adaptation to climate change can create jobs and stimulate the local economy. Furthermore, 81 per cent believe that adaptation requires immediate investment to avoid even higher costs in the future.
Direct consequences
Three-quarters of the people surveyed have experienced at least one extreme weather event in the past five years, 8 percentage points below the EU average. However, at 60 per cent, the proportion of people suffering at least one direct consequence was 8 points higher than the EU average.
To adapt, 45 per cent believe infrastructure should be improved, 37 per cent that cities should be cooled, and 35 per cent that vegetation that is more resistant to climate change should be planted.
Just over a third believe the costs of these measures should be borne by the businesses and industries that contribute most to climate change. A quarter think everyone should contribute equally, and one-fifth say only the richest people should do so.
The survey was conducted in August. A total of 24,000 people were surveyed in the EU and the US, including 1,008 Belgians.
The aftermath of flooding in Verviers on 15 July 2021 after rains and floods lashed western Europe, killing at least two people in Belgium © PHOTO FRANCOIS WALSCHAERTS / AFP
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