May 25, 2016 – Symposium “Towards an integrated vision of air and climate in Wallonia”, Louvain-la-Neuve

François Idzak, Head of the Atmospheric Emissions Unit, is taking part in the symposium.

On April 21, 2016, the Walloon Government adopted the Plan Air Climat Energie 2016-2022 (PACE). This plan is intended to help implement the decisions taken at the end of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21). This agreement is based on a long-term objective of keeping the rise in temperature well below 2°C and continuing efforts to limit the increase in temperature to below 1.5°C.

The plan stems from the Climate Decree of February 20, 2014, and aims in particular – thanks to around 100 measures – to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 30% by 2020 and 80-95% by 2050. All sectors of activity are concerned: agriculture, industry, transport, residential, etc.

The first conference to present the PACE program, which was recently adopted by the government, will focus on the state of the art in air quality improvement. After an opening address by Thierry Hance, Vice-President of UCL’s Earth&Life Institute, Professor Jean-Pascal van Ypersele will give an overview of the current climate situation, and Peter Wittoeck, head of the Belgian COP21 delegation, will present the Paris agreement and its consequences*.

Conference program.

*Source: http://www.ecocir.be/