Leuven reduces CO2 emissions to lowest level in decade
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Leuven, a city in Belgium, decreased its carbon dioxide emissions by 12 percent in 2024 compared to 2023, marking the largest reduction since measurements began in 2011.
The city saw significant drops in emissions from households and transportation. Thomas Van Oppens, Leuven’s climate and sustainability alderman, stated that recent extreme heat and wildfires underscored the urgency of slowing climate change. Leuven residents contributed to the reduction by increasingly choosing energy-efficient home improvements and green energy contracts.
Seventy-five percent of Leuven households now have green energy contracts, the highest rate among the region’s major cities. The city supports residents with free renovation advice and guidance through its Klimaathuis. Transportation saw the most substantial decrease in emissions, falling by 25.9 percent from the previous year. This change followed expansions to 30 km/h zones and a new mobility plan in the Kessel-Lo district. More Leuven residents are choosing to walk, cycle, use car-sharing services, or take public transportation.
Katrien Rycken, director of Leuven 2030, noted that both European regulations and local choices by organizations and citizens influence the city’s emissions. Overall, Leuven has reduced its CO2 output by 31 percent since 2011.
