08 Nov 2022 10:23

Climate financing: Brussels and Walloon regions allocate 6 million for Enabel projects

The Brussels-Capital Region and the Walloon Region signed complementary financing agreements for several climate projects of the Belgian governmental cooperation, implemented by the Belgian development agency, Enabel. This announcement comes on the sidelines of COP-27, the global climate conference taking place in Egypt from 6 to 18 November.

"The fight against climate change is the challenge of this century, and it requires new types of partnerships for more impact. I am delighted that the Walloon and Brussels Regions are joining forces with the federal level to strengthen the climate projects implemented by Enabel in different countries. This strengthens our collective impact. On the eve of COP27, we are setting an example together and I am delighted," said Jean Van Wetter, Managing Director at Enabel.

On the one hand, Wallonia will finance 2 million euros of complementary activities to the 'Sahel' thematic portfolio of the Belgian governmental cooperation, equally between Senegal and Burkina Faso. In these two countries, the projects supported aim to restore, manage and sustainably develop forest ecosystems within the framework of the Great Green Wall, and thus strengthen the resilience of the populations to climate change.

Another project concerns Lake Tanganyika in Central Africa, which is regularly affected by torrential rains, landslides, flooding and overflowing of the lake, exacerbated by global warming and human influence on ecosystems. These climatic events cause significant damage to infrastructure and human lives. This is an EU-funded project implemented by Enabel, in which the activities financed by the Walloon Region concern the installation of solar panels at the water analysis laboratories in Bujumbura (Burundi), where the Lake Tanganyika Management Authority is located.

Technicians in Mozambique monitor drinking water desalination process

The Brussels Region is financing (2 million euros, 2023-2025) the construction of flood protection infrastructure in the cities of Rubavu, Musanze and Rwamagana in Rwanda, as part of a Belgian governmental cooperation project for sustainable urban development.

A second project concerns urbanisation in Palestine (1 million euros, 2023-2025), which aims to develop climate-resilient public spaces. Activities include measures to adapt to climate change by addressing heat islands, flooding or landslides, through tree planting, green roofs, use of reflective materials, water harvesting with natural filtration, but also protection against rising waters. This project is also part of the Belgian governmental cooperation with Palestine.

A third project (1 million euros, 2024-2026) complements the Belgian governmental cooperation portfolio with Mozambique, which was announced on 7 November. The activities are aimed at equipping villages with a drinking water supply and desalination network using renewable energy.

"I am delighted that the federal and regional authorities are joining forces on climate financing. In doing so, they are giving concrete expression to their expressed desire to pursue the 'Team Belgium' approach to strengthen synergies between the political levels and increase the coherence and impact of climate projects," emphasised Jean Van Wetter.