Natural parks that combine environmental protection and the economy
The Grand Duchy has 3 nature parks. These areas, which include Natura 2000 zones, aim to reconcile the preservation of landscapes and natural environments with economic activity. They represent about 33% of the territory in surface and 10% of the population.
: on the north-eastern edge of the country, bordering Belgium and Germany, it is part of the Luxembourg Ardennes (Eislék). It is made up of a variety of rural landscapes, mixing agricultural land and forests, within valleys and plateaus. : located in the northwest of the country, also in the Luxembourg Ardennes, it protects narrow valleys and hills. It is also home to a reservoir lake, which is one of the main drinking water supply points of the country, as well as a recreational area for nature activities.Mëllerdall Nature Park and Geopark
: located in the east of the country, this nature park protects remarkable landscapes shaped by geology, including the majestic Luxembourg sandstone. Water is very present in the territory (Mëllerdall meaning millers' valley). Numerous activities and hiking trails allow you to enjoy the rich natural and cultural heritage of the park. A fourth nature park is in the process of being created. It is the Three Borders Park ("Dräilännereck"), which borders France (Lorraine) and Germany (Saarland, Rhineland-Palatinate).One of the world's largest ecological footprints
According to the NGO Global Footprint Network, Luxembourg is one of the countries with the largest ecological footprint, i.e. whose consumption exceeds the planet's capacity by far. The country's main consumption items are transport (which leads to the consumption of fossil fuels, which emit large quantities of greenhouse gases). Measures have been taken in order to develop alternatives in the field of mobility.
Towards low carbon mobility
Since March1, 2020, all national public transport - bus, streetcar and train - has been free of charge in the country and for all passengers, a world first. While this measure is intended to be "social", to relieve the most modest households, it also aims to encourage a modal shift from the car to public transport. The car is still very important in the Grand Duchy, which also needs to catch up on its backlog of rail infrastructure, park-and-ride facilities, etc. Free transport is accompanied by a financing plan to improve facilities. It marks the end of the model established in the second half of the 20th century, which saw the development of a dense motorway network, and its corollary, the decline of the secondary rail network. Efforts are also being made to promote active mobility, including cycling.
Reconciling finance and ecology
In 2017, the NGO Oxfam classified Luxembourg (whose banking sector accounted for nearly 30% of GDP) as one of the "most aggressive tax havens used by companies". A study conducted by the Stockholm Resilience Center and published in 2018 in the journal Nature highlighted the environmental impact of financial flows through tax havens (deforestation and overfishing). From this perspective, it seems relevant to question and account for the environmental impacts related to finance.
