The hole in the ozone layer, a kind of wound in our atmosphere, was detected in the 1980s and is now healing. Experts currently believe that our ozone layer over the Arctic will recover by 2045, and in another 20 years, over the Antarctic as well. For the rest of the world, recovery is expected by 2040.
As you may know, more UV light reaches the Earth's surface because of the holes in the ozone layer. This has negative effects on humans and the environment. If it continues to close, this could also slow down global warming.
At that time, too, human emissions were the cause of environmental destruction. Back then, it was chlorofluorocarbons, which were frequently used in hair sprays, air conditioners and refrigerators. The 1987 Montréal Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer banned chlorofluorocarbons. This measure was successful. We can heal holes in the atmosphere - we can also save our planet!
The construction sector is responsible for 40 percent of CO₂e emissions. It is therefore not surprising that the Flemish government, for example, is looking mainly in the direction of construction companies when looking for partners to reduce emissions.
The zero-waste company Orbix from Genk and the building materials producer Masterbloc from Maasmechelen have succeeded in developing building blocks that don’t use cement but carbon dioxide.
For the so called “Carbstones”, metal slag from steel production is converted into value-added circular products using carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide acts as a binder, so cement is needed for production. Orbix patented the Carbstone technology in 2011 and presented the result at the end of 2022.
Agreement has been reached on a reform of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) in December. ETS is the largest carbon market in the world and the EU's main climate policy instrument.
The ETS currently caps emissions from around 10 000 factories and power plants. Those with surplus CO₂ certificates can sell them and make a profit. The system will now be extended to more sectors of the economy to meet the EU's 2030 climate target - a commitment to reduce CO₂e emissions by a net 55 per cent before they are cut to zero by 2050.
Where does the blue in your jeans come from? The colours around us are almost all derived from petroleum - in our clothes, cosmetics, furniture and all sorts of things around us.
For a climate-neutral world, these conventional colours are not an option. That's why researchers at the University of Copenhagen have teamed up with Danish biotech start-up Octarine Bio. Together they have developed a new type of sustainable pigment. As a bonus, we will have access to paints with strong antibacterial properties. We look forward to the colourful world with less climate impact.
