Climate change, the ecological crisis, the raw materials crisis and the population crisis have largely escalated within a single generation. In this keynote, Rolf explains how these crises developed and, more importantly, how they can be addressed and resolved within one generation.
The energy and raw materials transitions are driving significant change and creating uncertainty. Although many major developments are happening at the same time, transitions have occurred throughout history. Rolf uses historical examples, a clear framework and a forward-looking perspective to outline the path ahead.
From the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to the present day, and from today towards 2050, society has moved through several energy transitions. The current transition is unprecedented in its scale, impact and urgency, but it is not the first transformation of its kind. What sets this transition apart is that it is one that will stand the test of time.
Solar power is the cheapest source of electricity in human history and the number one solution identified by the IPCC. How can a panel measuring approximately 1.6 square meters have such an extraordinary impact? In the Netherlands, 2.5 million households and thousands of businesses already use solar panels, often without fully realizing the remarkable historical role and impact of this technology.
More than 90 percent of the products we use every day contain petrochemical substances, many of which have a negative impact on both human health and the environment. At the same time, vast areas of the planet are being excavated for fossil resources, metals and raw materials required for the energy transition.
The challenges surrounding the raw materials transition are considerably more complex than those of the energy transition. This keynote explores the context, key challenges and a practical roadmap towards a biobased, non-toxic and circular economy.
Every day, we are exposed to dozens, if not hundreds, of chemical substances known to be harmful to our health. These include pesticides, heavy metals, phthalates, PFAS, Pax and many others. Some of these substances have been banned for years, yet they are still detected in our bodies. Where do they come from, what effects do they have, how can we prevent further exposure and how can we eliminate them?
