SINGLE COUNTRY PROFILE
Thursday, 13 November 2025
Context:
Being a federal state, adopting and adjusting the National Sustainable Development Strategy requires the coordination between the Federal State, the Communities (Flemish, French and German-speaking) and the Regions (Wallonia, Flanders and Brussels-Capital). There are thus several national, federal, and regional sustainable development plans that all have the same status.
National:
It is laid down in Article 7bis of the Belgian Constitution that:
“In the exercise of their respective competences, the federal state, the communities and the regions pursue the objectives of sustainable development in its social, economic and environmental dimensions, taking into account the solidarity between generations.”
Each level of government is therefore required to contribute to sustainable development. Consultation and cooperation between the federated entities in this area take place within the Interministerial Conference on Sustainable Development (IMCDO), which was established on 6 June 2012. It is currently composed of various ministers responsible for sustainable development. The Presidency of the IMCSD rotates.
The work focuses on the preparation of a national strategy, cooperation on sustainable public procurement, and the discussion of international dossiers such as the implementation of 2030 Agenda.
This was achieved, on the one hand, through the adoption of a national strategy, for sustainable development in 2017, which sets out how the various authorities in Belgium should cooperate and link their strategies to ensure that they are coherent with the SDGs and, on the other hand, through the preparation of two Voluntary National Reviews. These reviews presented the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (in 2017 and 2023) to the United Nations.
Federal State:
The federal government has had a solid institutional framework for sustainable development for quite some time.
The federal strategy for sustainable development was established by the law of 5 May 1997. It is based on a policy cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) that allows for a continuous process of learning and improvement.
The federal strategy for sustainable development relies on several instruments:
- A Federal Long-Term Strategic Vision for Sustainable Development, which sets 55 objectives to be achieved by 2050, with a set of indicators to report on the progress towards reaching these objectives, and provides an overarching framework for the work of the actors defined by law. The objectives are linked to federal competences, such as poverty reduction, public health, mobility, energy, climate change and development cooperation.
- A Federal Plan for Sustainable Development (FPSD), which is adopted every five years based on input from civil society through the Federal Council for Sustainable Development (FCSD), as well as the scientific expertise of the Federal Planning Bureau and the knowledge of the federal public services. The current plan (adopted on the 1st October 2021) comprises guidelines and interdepartmental actions covering a wide range of topics involving all federal competencies: Accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, ensure policy coherence, the exemplary role of the state, Leaving No One Behind, reinforce resilience, transform the economy, change the mobility model, financing and an international dimension. A new plan is foreseen in 2026. Evaluation is carried out by the Federal Reports on Sustainable Development described below.
- The Federal Report on Sustainable Development, which is prepared by the Federal Planning Bureau every five years in two parts: a part evaluating the existing situation and the policies on sustainable development, in particular the Federal Plan on Sustainable Development; a part presenting long-term forward-looking scenarios.
- The Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), which is an ex-ante assessment of the potential impacts of draft regulations in an integrated manner—covering economic, social, environmental, and governmental aspects.
- The Annual Action Plans for Sustainable Development of the federal public services, developed by the sustainable development cells of these federal services. The plan includes a list of measures from the current federal sustainable development plan that the service is responsible for implementing, a list of other measures to contribute to the goals of the long-term vision and measures relating to the sustainable management of the service, particularly in the areas of internal environmental management and sustainable public procurement.
The Interdepartmental Commission for Sustainable Development (ICSD), which brings together representatives of the different federal government departments, oversees the planning and monitoring part of the process, supported by the Federal Institute for Sustainable Development.
The Federal Institute for Sustainable Development (FISD) supports the Belgian federal authorities in their sustainable development policy. The FISD coordinates the preparation and implementation of this policy and shares its expertise in sustainable development. In addition to these main tasks, the FISD is also responsible for preparing and implementing the Minister's policy.
In practical terms, our daily actions aim to:
- propose cross-cutting sustainable development policies and support federal policy in this area;
- develop innovative projects and tools to make sustainable development a reality and support public services, businesses, civil society organisations and citizens on their journey towards a more sustainable society;
- weave a network of knowledge and expertise and collaborate with all stakeholders, enabling us to contribute, together, to the transition to a more sustainable society;
- raise awareness of sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among organisations, public services and citizens;
- monitor Belgian, European and international policy on sustainable development.
Regions:
Flanders
In 2021, the Flemish authorities approved the fourth Flemish Strategy for Sustainable Development. Through this strategy, the Flemish Government continues to work towards a sustainable society, using Vision 2050 as its long-term compass. The fifth strategy is under preparation.
The operationalisation of the Flemish Strategy involves cooperation with the relevant stakeholders. For example, through the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), Flanders supports local authorities in activities that implement Flemish sustainable development policy, including the organisation of a Sustainable Municipality Week. The SDGs are also well anchored in local government, as evidenced by the commitment of the umbrella organisations VVSG and the Association of Flemish Provinces (VVP) to draw up a Voluntary Subnational Review (in 2023).
French-speaking community
A decree was adopted on 1 July 2021 to coordinate and strengthen the French-speaking Community's actions for an ecological transition, based on the following clear and ambitious objectives:
- Carbon neutrality by 2050 at the latest;
- A reduction of at least 55% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels;
- Implementation of sustainable adaptation measures necessary to minimize the risks of climate change to people and biodiversity.
The Ecological Transition Plan (ETP) of the French Community sets out the concrete measures needed to achieve these overarching goals. The action plan includes several pillars: mobility, real estate infrastructure, public procurement, behavioral adjustments, training and awareness-raising, and cross-cutting measures. The actions within each pillar focus on specific sectors, organizations, and target groups.
In addition to the Ecological Transition Plan, there are five other strategic cross-cutting plans that guide and frame the French Community's actions in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
- The Media Literacy Plan of the French Community
- The Action Plan for Children's Rights 2020–2024
- The Poverty Reduction Plan 2020–2025
- The Intra-Francophone Plan to Combat Violence Against Women 2020–2024
- The Women's Rights Plan 2020–2024
Walloon Region
Since 2013, the Walloon government has had a decree in place for the integration of sustainable development at the institutional level (modified in 2019). Each Walloon strategy for sustainable development, which should contain a long-term vision (2050) as well as an action plan, has a lifespan corresponding to the legislative term and is accompanied by a progress report every 3 to 4 years.
The third Walloon Strategy for Sustainable Development, adopted in 2022 strengthens the implementation of the SDGs in Wallonia and increases policy coherence for sustainable development by linking sectoral policy measures.
Concretely, the strategy includes:
- A mapping of the most structural Walloon strategies and plans to demonstrate their respective contributions to the SDGs;
- 89 quantified targets linked to the SDG goals considered a priority for Wallonia, adapted to the Walloon context;
- 16 cross-cutting actions to strengthen Wallonia’s capacity to implement the SDGs, organised into six categories: anticipate, ensure coherence, participate, educate and raise awareness, finance, and measure.
The fourth strategy is under preparation. It will be based, namely, on a call for projects stimulating partnerships between stakehokders (SDG 17).
Wallonia has had a department specifically dedicated to sustainable development since 2012: the Directorate for Sustainable Development, which had around 30 full-time equivalents in 2025. The missions of this directorate are as follows:
- Develop, coordinate and monitor cross-cutting strategies for the transition to sustainable development;
- Monitor trends and policies relating to sustainable development and issues surrounding the transition to sustainable development;
- Manage the participatory governance of cross-cutting strategies for the transition to sustainable development;
- Empower public and private actors to integrate sustainable development principles and objectives into their activities.
Brussels-Capital Region
In the Brussels-Capital Region, sustainable development projects are integrated into the operational objectives of the administration.
The Regional Sustainable Development Plan (2018) sets the development priorities until 2040 for the Brussels Region, based on economic, social, environmental, and mobility needs. The Regional Plan, which complements other regional plans and measures, is intended to support the region in pursuing the 17 sustainable development goals within its remit. Various regional sectoral plans are linked to the SDGs, including: the Nature Plan, the Water Management Plan, the Air-Climate-Energy Plan, the Regional Programme for the Circular Economy, the Good Food Strategy, the Brussels Plan to Combat Violence Against Women, the Brussels Plan to Support Single-Parent Families, the Brussels Plan for the Inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Persons, the regional policies on gender mainstreaming and handistreaming, and the Shifting Economy strategy.
Another Strategy, the Go4Brussels 2030 Strategy, promotes transition in Brussels in terms of economy, society, and environment. The 2030 strategy is based on two main principles. These serve as a guide to transforming the Brussels Region into a more sustainable and resilient economy and more inclusive community:
- Sustainable economic transition. Brussels wants to promote the transition to a climate-friendly, sustainable economy and decarbonise all sectors. Therefore, Brussels supports sectors that focus on circular and regenerative economy, social and democratic entrepreneurship and the digitalisation of the economy.
- Employment and training. Brussels want to improve the training rate of job seekers and reorient the training offer so that it would best meet the needs of enterprises
German-speaking Community
The Regional Development Concept (REK) Ostbelgien Leben 2025 serves—across various legislative periods and implementation phases—as a guiding thread for sustainable development and the implementation of the SDGs in the German-speaking Community. This concept included a vision for the future of the German-speaking Community as an economic, border, educational, solidarity and living region. In this context, numerous projects are carried out over three implementation phases (REK I, REK II, and REK III).
As the vision Ostbelgien Leben 2025 approached its end date, the German-speaking Community began developing a new integrated vision, “Ostbelgien Leben 2040”, in 2021.
This vision is intended to serve as a navigational aid and guide, providing orientation and certainty for shaping a resilient future. The mission statement is the result of a broad participatory process. It comprises nine key objectives, each of which is divided into areas of action and operational goals.
The implementation of Ostbelgien Leben 2040 started in 2025.
National
National Strategy Sustainable Development
Federal
Federal Plan Sustainable Development
Flanders
Vision 2050 – A long term strategy
Flemish Strategy Sustainable Development
SDG guide for public sector organisations
French Community
Plan transversal de transition écologique de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles
Contribution of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles VNR 2023
Walloon Region
Troisième Stratég ie wallonne de développement durable
Brussels-Capital Region
Contribution of Brussels-Capital Region VNR 2023
German-speaking community
Federal
The Federal Institute for Sustainable Development, under the authority of the Minister on Sustainable Development.
Regions:
Flanders
Department of Chancellery and Foreign Affairs
Wallonia
Directorate of Sustainable Development
General Secretariat
Public Service of Wallonia
Brussels-Capital Region
Bruxelles Environment
German-speaking community
Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft
Fachbereich Standortentwicklung
Referat Regionalentwicklung
National:
Federal:
Federal Institute Sustainable Development
Coordinator Governance Unit
Cedric.vandewalle@ifdd.fed.be
Regions:
Flanders
Flemish Government
Flanders Chancellery and Foreign Office
Algemeen regeringsbeleid
Maarten.vanleest@vlaanderen.be
Wallonia
Directorate of Sustainable Development
General Secretariat
Public Service of Wallonia
Head of Department
Natacha.zuinen@spw.wallonie.be
http://developpementdurable.wallonie.be/
Brussels-Capital Region
Bruxelles Environment
Anne SAUDMONT Bruxelles Environnement - IBGE
Div. Information, Coordination générale, Economie circulaire , Département international et juridique
www.bruxellesenvironnement.be
German speaking community
Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft
Fachbereich Standortentwicklung
Referat Regionalentwicklung
www.ostbelgienlive.be www.ostbelgienleben2040.be
National/Federal:
- IMCSD: The Interministerial Conference for Sustainable Development is responsible for the coordination of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Belgium and gathers ministers in charge of sustainable development among the different Belgian entities.
- ICSD coordinates horizontal integration, prepares Federal Plan (FPSD), reports on federal administrations’ implementation, organizes working groups on public procurement, CSR, the federal sustainable development strategy and international policy. FCSD provides advice and participates in policy preparation.
- Technical working groups include all governance levels to prepare decisions for the Interministerial Conference.
- International coordination is under the responsibility of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, coordinating the Belgian position on multilateral affairs trough “Coormulti” and European Affairs through “DG Europe” meetings.
- Stakeholders' engagement at the federal level is deeply rooted in the administrative culture. It occurs mainly through interactions with the Federal Council for Sustainable Development gathering representatives from the main major groups. Moreover, ad hoc participatory processes are also established on a project based.
- Considering spillovers effects remains a challenge given the socio-economic characteristics of Belgium. At the federal level these unintended impacts are considered by the Advisory Council Policy Coherence for Development. Moreover, specific indicators to track these impacts are being developed by the Federal Planning Bureau following international and european methodologies in this respect.
Regions:
Flanders Lerend netwerk CIFAL / SOIA dossierteam multilateraal
- At the Flemish level, policy coherence for sustainable development is fostered through structured interdepartmental coordination. At first there was a Working Group on Sustainable Development (WGSD), which served as the main horizontal mechanism, bringing together representatives from all Flemish departments. This has changed to ad hoc working groups when necessity requires it.
- Flanders supports the Flemish Association of Cities and communities (VVSG). Flemish local governments remain (international) frontrunners in the local anchoring of the SDGs, and that they have the knowledge and tools to contribute to the 2030 Agenda and to communicate it externally.As a regional government, Flanders plays a role within Belgium’s federal structure while also coordinating vertically with its own local authorities. While coordination with the federal level occurs mainly through national mechanisms such as the Interdepartmental Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), Flanders focuses on ensuring policy coherence within its jurisdiction and with local stakeholders.
- Through its long-term vision and transition-oriented policies, Flanders seeks to minimize negative spillovers and enhance positive impacts of its actions on other regions and future generations. Transition priorities under Vision 2050, including circular economy, energy, mobility, and sustainable living, explicitly integrate global sustainability considerations and contribute to broader EU and international objectives. A new strategy is currently being developed, which will adopt a different approach. This strategy is still in the process of administrative approval.
- Stakeholder participation is an important aspect of the Flemish sustainable development framework. The development of Vision 2050 was carried out through a participatory process involving multiple departments, agencies, and Strategic Advisory Councils. During the preparation of the Voluntary National Review (VNR) input was also sought from advisory councils and a dedicated section of the VNR addressed stakeholder engagement in the process.
Wallonia
- In Wallonia, policy coherence for sustainable development is guided by the Decree on the Walloon Sustainable Development Strategy, which establishes interdepartmental coordination across ministries. The Walloon Government integrates sustainable development principles into all policy areas through the Walloon Strategy for Sustainable Development.
- Vertical coordination mechanisms ensure coherence between the regional government and local authorities. Specific actions of the Walloon Sustainable Development Strategy target local authorities to encourage local governments to align their plans with regional sustainability objectives. A network of actors dealing with local authorities and sustainable development is coordinated by the Directorate of Sustainable Development.
- Stakeholder participation is institutionalized through the decree governing the Walloon strategy. When a new strategy for sustainable development is designed, it is formally submitted for the opinion of designated actors, ensuring their structured involvement in the process. Furthermore, a Walloon Partnership for sustainable development (in reference to SDG 17) has been created in 2021, composed of 25 representatives of civil society, academia, private actors and regional and local public actors. These stakeholdersare systematically involved in the development, implementation, and monitoring of the strategy.
Brussels-Capital Region
- In the Brussels-Capital Region, policy coherence for sustainable development is ensured through the Regional Sustainable Development Plan (RSDP), adopted in July 2018. The plan integrates sustainability objectives into regional policymaking and serves as a framework for coordination across departments and policy areas. The Brussels Government uses interdepartmental working structures to align actions across sectors such as energy, mobility, housing, and social inclusion.
- The Brussels-Capital Region maintains close coordination with local municipalities to ensure consistent implementation of the RSDP’s objectives. Local authorities are key partners in carrying out measures related to urban development, social inclusion, and environmental management. The coordination focuses on ensuring that local urban planning and social policies align with the overarching regional sustainability goals.
- As a dense urban region, Brussels pays particular attention to reducing negative environmental and social spillovers, such as resource use, pollution, and housing pressures, while promoting positive impacts like innovation and inclusiveness. The RSDP 2040 Vision explicitly addresses sustainable urban transformation, aiming to make Brussels a greener, more inclusive, and more resource-efficient city that contributes positively to national and global sustainability efforts.
A comprehensive public consultation was held between January and March 2017 during the drafting of the Regional Sustainable Development Plan (RSDP). This participatory approach shaped the final strategy and continues to inform its implementation. Building on this foundation, stakeholder engagement has since been modernised and expanded. In 2024, the regional government launched perspective.brussels, a digital platform enabling residents, civic organisations and private entities to participate systematically in project design and policy discussions. At the municipal level, the “BXL 2050” sustainable development plan was co-created through a public survey (Dec 2023–Jan 2024), local workshops and virtual tours, ensuring wide involvement of neighbourhood actors. Furthermore, the region’s Sustainable Neighbourhood Contracts (SNCs) exemplify participatory co-design: local associations, municipalities and residents collaborate to define and implement urban sustainability initiatives. These newer mechanisms complement earlier consultation practices and help embed stakeholder input into both strategic and operational levels of policymaking.
National:
OECD Policy Coherence Scan of Belgium (EN)
Federal:
The Federal Institute for Sustainable Development | FIDO
Regions:
Flanders
Flanders on Sustainable Development
Wallonia
Accueil - Le développement durable en Wallonie
Brussels-Capital Region
Municipal Plan for Sustainable Development - BXL 2050 | City of Brussels
National/Federal:
At the national level, the Interfederal Statistical Institute has created a working group, chaired by the Federal Planning Bureau, on indicators to monitor the implementation of the SDGs.
This resulted in a website, currently presenting 83 indicators, that are ranked and numbered according to the SDGs. The key indicators and trends contained therein are evaluated each year by the Federal Planning Bureau in relation to the objectives adopted by federal policy. The report is published annually in february. The last one was in february 2025.
Regions:
Flanders
The previous Flemish Strategy for Sustainable Development (FSSD4) was monitored through the transition platform of the Flemish Department of Chancellery and Foreign Affairs. Although 111 indicators were monitored annually to track progress, the most recent monitoring exercise occurred during the drafting of the VNR. Most indicators remain accessible via the Flemish statistical authority (VSA) website. Once the new strategy is adopted, the previous monitoring set will be phased out and replaced by a new set aligned with the updated strategic objectives.
At the Flemish level evaluation is obliged through the Flemish decree for Sustainable Development: the new Strategy for Sustainable Development must incorporate an evaluation of the previous strategy.
Wallonia
Since 2016, Wallonia has developed a set of 113 indicators to monitor SDGs. Monitoring is done by the Walloon Institute for Evaluation, Prospective and Statistics and the Directorate for Sustainable Development. A regional website is updated yearly.
At the level of the indicator evaluation method, the choice was made to use the Eurostat evaluation method.
Brussels-Capital Region
Perspective.brussels, the regional reference centre of expertise for regional and territorial development in Brussels, will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the actions and objectives of the Regional Sustainable Development Plan and – where appropriate, in consultation with the authorities concerned – formulating proposals to the Government for additional strategies.
Projecting.brussels the mission, has three main areas of focus:
- annual and cross-cutting monitoring of developments in the urban context;
- coordination of consultations with regional actors involved in the implementation of the urban project;
- practical and forward-looking reflection on the themes of the urban project.
Various types of indicators are needed:
- socio-economic indicators to monitor developments in the socio-economic context at regional level;
- environmental indicators to monitor developments in the Region's environmental context and the environmental impact of the plan's implementation, and to determine how the plan can be integrated into the 2030 Sustainable Development Programme and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Regarding the Go4Brussels 2030 Strategic Plan, the evaluation of the measures is the responsibility of the Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis (BISA)
German-speaking Community
Currently it is foreseen to produce a report on the implementation status of “Ostbelgien Leben 2040” twice a year.
Extern
The Court of Audit has examined how all governments in Belgium are committed to and organised with regard to the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In its 2020 audit, the Court of Audit makes several recommendations to improve the implementation, cooperation and reporting of the Belgian authorities regarding the Sustainable Development Goals.
National:
indicators.be - Sustainable development indicators
Regions:
Flanders
Wallonia
Des bilans réguliers des progrès de la Wallonie
Brussels-Capital Region
National:
The latest report ‘Sustainable Development Indicators 2025’ presents 83 indicators and an assessment of their progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN in 2015.
Belgium presented its first VNR in 2017, focusing mainly on stock taking, mapping how sustainable development is being addressed in Belgium and what initiatives are being taken in line with the SDGs. Several indicators were also added in the annexes to the Belgian VNR.
A second VNR was drawn up in May 2022, following a decision by the Interministerial Conference on Sustainable Development, composed of the federal and regional levels levels. The FISD was responsible for the general administrative coordination of the drafting, given that the federal government chaired the IMCSD from the beginning of October 2022 to the end of September 2023. The second Belgian VNR was presented to the United Nations in July 2023 during the High-Level Political Forum. Whereas the first VNR was more of a stock-taking exercise, the second VNR focused on the progress, challenges and prospects for the implementation of Agenda 2030 in Belgium.
Federal:
The Federal reports on Sustainable Development, prepared by the Sustainable Development team of the Federal Planning Bureau, contributes to the follow up, review of Agenda 2030, through their database of Sustainable Development indicators, and work on policy evaluation tools. The latest federal report dates from 2024 and concerns the evaluation of federal policy on sustainable development and 51 follow-up indicators for the SDGs.
The Federal Report on Sustainable Development is divided into two parts: a status and evaluation report and a foresight report looking at future developments. The status and evaluation report needs to be published at least 15 months prior to the completion date of the Federal Plan.
The report by the members of the Interdepartmental Commission on Sustainable Development (ICSD), which contains Information on the implementation of the measures through which the administrative unit they represent aims to contribute to the objectives of the Federal Plan (FPSD). This report is to be completed at least 18 months prior to the agreed completion date of the FPSD.
Regions:
Flanders
Wallonia
The 3rd Sustainable Development strategy foresees the elaboration of a report on the implementation of the SDGs in Wallonia every 3 to 4 years.
The latest report analyzing the regional progress towards SDGs was published in 2023. It contains 1) an evaluation of 113 SDG monitoring indicators, of which 74 are linked to a quantified target (among the 89 set by the Walloon Government); 2) an overall and SDG-specific analysis, as well as detailed indicator sheets; 3) key messages, drawn from the members of the Walloon Partnership for Sustainable Development, to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs in Wallonia. Since then, an update of the 113 indicators has been done in 2024 and is available on the dedicated website. A new 2025 update is under preparation.
Brussels-Capital Region
An initial report on the actions taken and the areas of work to be developed must be submitted within two years of the approval of the GPDO. This must provide a roadmap for the areas of work that need to be developed as a priority and an implementation plan.
The RSDP is assessed through thematic evaluations and a comprehensive report every five years. Operational indicators feed into these evaluations, which guide updates to the regional plan. Public consultations and feedback mechanisms also inform reporting.
Brussels Planning Office (Bureau Bruxellois de la Planification) oversees reporting, coordinating public administrations and agencies. Reports are based on operational indicators and thematic assessments, feeding into 5-year evaluation cycles.
German-speaking community:
Currently it is foreseen to produce a report on the implementation status of “Ostbelgien Leben 2040” twice a year.
National:
Sustainable Development Indicators 2025
Federal:
Federal Contribution VNR 2023 – in Dutch
Federal Contribution VNR 2023 – in French
Federal Report Sustainable Development 2024
Regions:
Flanders
Wallonia
3rd Progress report to achieve the SDGs
Indicators website
Brussels-Capital Region
German-speaking community
