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The Benelux region is working on sustainable development and the green transition for more sustainable economic growth, while establishing sustainable ecosystems is becoming crucial to our wellbeing.

To successfully achieve this transition, close and diverse cooperation in the areas of the circular economy, climate change adaptation, agriculture, and nature protection is essential.

Replacing the linear economy with a circular one

Our market economy and consumption patterns have brought us much prosperity. At the same time, they are gradually leading to the depletion of our resources, all while generating waste and carbon emissions, decreasing biodiversity and augmenting water shortages and natural disasters. The circular economy offers a way to slow down this cycle through a change in mentality among consumers and producers. The Benelux countries are committed to the transition to a circular economy by focusing on projects such as:

• waste management or recycling, for example by not seeing waste paper as waste, but as a raw material instead
• recycling of construction and demolition waste
• repairability of products such as mobile phones, coffee machines and refrigerators
• facilitating the transition through education and awareness-raising

Sharing expertise on climate adaptation

The Benelux region faces threats at various levels as a result of the effects of climate change. As such, it is essential that the member countries act together.

The Benelux region is threatened at various levels by the effects of climate change, and the countries must work together to implement resilient policies, particularly in the areas of climate adaptation, climate mitigation, as well as just resilience and health.

Harmonise Benelux legislation to better protect nature

Nature has no respect for artificial, man-made borders. As such, our Benelux initiatives to protect species are aimed at promoting solutions across borders. This includes the coordination and adaptation of Belgian, Dutch and Luxembourg legislation on species and nature protection, covering the conservation, management and restoration of the natural environment and landscape.

Cooperation between the Benelux countries currently focuses on the following themes:

• survival of fish populations in Benelux river basins
• protection of groundwater in border regions
• control of invasive non-native species, one of the main causes of global biodiversity decline
• the opening and closing of the hunting season

Securing the agriculture of tomorrow

The Benelux countries are joining forces to build a more sustainable, innovative, and future-oriented agriculture. Faced with the challenges of climate change, economic developments, and new European requirements, it is becoming essential to strengthen cross-border cooperation in this sector.

To build a more resilient future, the Benelux countries focus on the economic viability of the sector as well as access to land and financing. Generational renewal through the promotion of agricultural professions is also taken into account.

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