Flemish Minister for the Environment Zuhal Demir (N-VA) will indeed file an appeal in cassation against the decision of the Brussels Court of Appeal, which orders the Flemish Region, the Brussels Capital Region and the Belgian State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 by 2030. percent compared to 1990. She said this on Friday in De Ochtend (Radio 1). According to her, “a French-speaking judge is imposing collective impoverishment on the Flemish Community”.
After the judgment in the so-called Climate Case was announced on Thursday, Demir said he would analyze the decision “with a view to cassation”. On Friday she confirmed that she will file an appeal in cassation. “It is a matter of principle. We live in a democracy, but the court of appeal goes further than European obligations.”
Demir sees the judgment as a decision by a French-speaking judge to impose “collective impoverishment” on Flanders. “I will not allow a judge to make political decisions. Because what he actually does is impose a ‘degrowth’ story.” Moreover, according to her, the judge made a mistake by speaking of a general reduction and not making a distinction between the sectors that fall within the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) and those outside it.
What Demir says is very surprising is the fact that the Walloon Region was not condemned. “Why is that? Because Wallonia closed two blast furnaces in Liège and Charleroi. As a result, CO2 emissions fell sharply, but that also had consequences for employment.” Demir therefore does not intend to close companies or entire sectors to achieve the climate goals. “We are not going to go down that path,” she said.
This article is originally published on bruzz.be
