Belgium vows more climate action on anniversary of deadly floods

Belgium's prime minister vowed on Thursday (14 July) to do more to tackle climate change as he marked the first anniversary of devastating floods that killed 39 people in the country.

Record rainfall led to severe flooding in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands last July, killing more than 200 people, tearing down homes and forcing many residents to evacuate in inflatable dinghies. The disaster caused billions of euros in damage.

"One year ago, amidst the worst natural disaster our country has ever known, Belgium witnessed the birth of heroes," Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said at a ceremony to remember the victims, in the eastern city of Liège, which was hard hit by the floods.

Paying tribute to residents of the affected towns and the emergency services, De Croo said the disaster should spur more ambitious action to tackle climate change, which scientists blame for increasingly destructive weather around the world.

"A year ago we promised ourselves that we would transform the destructive rage of nature into an exceptional force for action… We can and we must go further," he said.

Climate scientists last year found that the floods were made at least 20% more likely by climate change – reflecting a long-known principle that for every degree the atmosphere heats up, it can hold 7% more moisture, increasing the chance of heavy rain.

EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans said on Thursday he would propose that the EU establishes an annual day of remembrance for people killed by climate change.

Timmermans said he came up with the idea after one of his colleagues lost her 15-year-old daughter on that day last year.

"This fact just keeps me focused on this issue all the time. If you know a person, it's different – I don't know any other one of the 220 people, but this person is recognisable to us all."

"It's why we should have a day to commemorate these victims of the climate crisis. We cannot let them become anonymous," he said. "That is why I would propose this to my colleagues in the Commission and we will come back to you after the summer, with a proposal," he said.