Since the 90’s Ap Verheggen is on a mission to address climate change and raise awareness for it in a positive way.
With an innovative approach he raises environmental issues, and combines art, technology and science in different projects and movies. His most remarkable project is the SunGlacier: a solar-powered, watermaker. Based on Peltier technology a patented “Growing Waterfall” is created. The SunGlacier machine condenses moisture from the air, producing between 1,000 and 2,000 litres of water per day in arid environments where it would otherwise be impossible.
Iceberg Riders: A Cinematic Call to Action
Ap Verheggen and his SunGlacier project are already well known in the Middle East. His mission is also captured in a thought-provoking film, Iceberg Riders. The film premieres in Muscat on September 23rd 2024. It shows impressive images of climate change at the North Pole, where Ap Verheggen regularly went for research.
Ap Verheggen’s work has always been driven by a deep concern for the future of our planet. From his earlier projects like the Water Fountain sculpture, which sought to raise awareness about the melting polar ice caps, to the SunGlacier, his endeavours have consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Verheggen’s fusion of art and science has opened new avenues for addressing environmental issues, proving that creativity can play a crucial role in the fight against climate change.
Speaking directly to the younger generation, Verheggen emphasises the importance of maintaining hope and taking action.
“Our world faces immense challenges, but we must avoid falling into eco-paralysis. It’s crucial that we focus on creating solutions and not be paralysed by fear. The future is in your hands—think creatively, act boldly, and together we can overcome even the most daunting obstacles.”
Iceberg Riders aims to inspire global audiences to reconsider their relationship with the environment. The choice of Muscat as the re-launch location is significant—Oman, with its unique desert landscapes, faces its own challenges from climate change, making it a fitting venue for such an impactful message. The film serves as a metaphorical last call, urging viewers to take immediate and decisive action to curb global warming before the consequences become irreversible.
Future
A Sunglacier is exposed at Museon Omniversum in The Hague. Soon the production of Sunglaciers wil take place in The Netherlands and therefor available at large scale for everybody who wants to create water out of air.
“The time to act is now. Think in solutions and act positive."
More about the work of Ap Verheggen
About Carbon Vanish
Carbon vanish, the most effective approach to addressing the increase of CO2 in the atmosphere is to mitigate its emissions:
– enhancing energy efficiency across all sectors
– harnessing the potential of solar energy
– implementing local alternative technologies (such as wind, hydroelectric power)
– the mineral Olivine has the property of converting CO2 into a kind of innocent chalk, permanently. CO2 removal through mineralization holds promise due to its potential to yield stable products, which also can also possess value. The elimination process usually takes several decades, but The Carbon Vanishers managed to accelerate this process and reduce the CO2 levels by half in a continuous airflow.
About Sunglacier
Artist Ap Verheggen launched SunGlacier in 2010 as an art project to address climate change. The initial concept involved a solar-powered desert glacier. However, water scarcity concerns led to a shift from producing ice to potable water from air.
About Iceberg Riders
The IceBerg Riders project was very successful in drawing attention worldwide to a more positive approach to the challenges of climate change. Two large sculptures were placed on an iceberg in the bay of Uummannaq, West Greenland in a creative and playful way.
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