De Klimaatschok vanuit een Self-Sufficiency perspectief
Van moreel leiderschap naar self-sufficiency Enkele weken geleden bespraken we hoe het morele narratief in klimaatbeleid leidt tot verlamming vandaag, en waarom we nood hebben aan een nieuw perspectief[1]: Lange tijd kon Europa rekenen op een moreel narratief van gedeelde verantwoordelijkheid en internationale samenwerking. Klimaatbeleid werd opgevat als een collectieve opdracht, waarin landen elkaar vertrouwden en samen […]
Why “Self-Sufficiency” will spark more climate action than “Moral Ambitions”
Three years ago, together with Geert Noels and Yanaika Denoyelle, I co-authored “Climate Shock”, a book in which we outlined twenty climate solutions for Belgium and quantified their CO₂ impact. Since then, the world has changed profoundly, and so has the way we approach climate policy. Public interest in climate issues has declined, and political […]
Key Insights from Nocturne Event on Market Opportunities in the Nordics for the Energy Transition
On Tuesday, December 10th, Ortelius attended the Nocturne co-hosted by Sirris and the Agoria Energy Technology Club, which focused on “Market Opportunities in the Nordics for the Energy Transition.” The event provided a deep dive into energy transition opportunities in the Nordics and the Baltic Sea, specifically examining the emerging potential for supplying critical metals […]
Belgium Tops Europe in Power-to-Gas Price Ratio: A Call for Reform
Our built environment is responsible for approximately 18% of the total emissions in our country, making our building stock a significant source of CO2 emissions. When placed in a European context, Belgium has one of the highest emissions per capita for our residential buildings. In 2018, only Luxembourg performed worse. This is not surprising: Belgians live relatively […]
Rainforests at Risk: Can Economics provide the Solution?
Rainforests, the lush green giants of our planet, not only harbor unparalleled biodiversity but also serve as vital natural carbon sinks. This article delves into the process by which rainforests act as colossal carbon absorbers, the critical role of three major rainforest regions, and the alarming consequences of deforestation on global carbon emissions. How do […]
Nature-based solutions – Multiple benefits but limited funding: a paradox?
What are nature-based solutions? Nature loss lies at the heart of many challenges we face. Think of issues such as climate warming, biodiversity loss, land degradation, water pollution, or disaster risk. One promising approach to address all these challenges is through nature-based solutions: solutions inspired by and supported by nature. This type of solutions includes a […]
Electric Vehicle Recycling: A Growing Market with Potential?
The presence of electric vehicles is increasingly noticeable on our roads. In the first quarter of 2023, fully electric cars accounted for 13,4% of all new car sales in Europe. Scandinavia traditionally leads the pack, with Norway at the forefront (84%), followed by Sweden (36,2%) and Finland (31,4%). Netherlands narrowly misses the top three with a […]
Never waste a good crisis: it is time for Belgium to lock-in the tumbling electricity-to-gas price ratio
In our country, the primary method of heating our buildings is through the combustions of oil or gas. Unfortunately, this reliance on fossil fuels leads to a significant contribution of nearly 20% to our national emissions each year. As such we are faced with the formidable challenge of transitioning to greener heating methods, which involves […]
Worried about sea level rise at the Belgian coast? Coastal Vision has it covered.
There are two broad categories of climate action: mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation has the goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the severity of climate change and keep global warming as restricted as possible. Solutions[1] include swapping fossil fuels for renewables, capturing carbon dioxide emissions at a factory’s chimney or working towards a circular economy. While […]
Shaping the Blue Horizon: Econopolis joins forces on the Creation of a Large-Scale North Sea ModelShaping the Blue Horizon:
Undoubtedly, you may have already observed their presence on the horizon – the sturdy steel turbines situated a few dozen kilometers from our shoreline, which in the year 2022 contributed an impressive 7.5 percent to the total electricity output of our country, Belgium. Presently, their capacity stands at 2.3 gigawatts, with the potential to surge […]