A Belgian research station, named Princess Elisabeth, is being established on the continent of Antarctica, and its activities will commence in November 2008. Dexia, Dexia Bank, Dexia Insurance Belgium and Dexia Asset Management, committed to the issue of climate change, have joined forces for this operation. Conceived and built by the International Polar Foundation in Brussels, the station is dedicated to research into climate change. Some twenty scientists from Belgium and other countries will be living there during the southern summer. Ecology determined the choice of materials used in order to reduce the environmental impact of the base: it will operate solely with renewable energies, wind power predominantly, and its waste will be recycled. A first!