In an era marked by climate change, biodiversity loss and mounting economic and geopolitical pressures, the upcoming Natural Capital Conference at the Yacht Club de Monaco on 3rd November will place natural capital at the heart of the conversation. The term refers to the stock of natural resources and the services nature provides, and the conference will argue that both its preservation and its proper valuation are essential levers for transforming society and ensuring long‑term resilience.

Integrating science, finance and policy

The organisers emphasise that the transition towards a regenerative economy—one that aligns economic prosperity, social justice and ecosystem restoration—depends equally on scientific advances and economic‑financial tools. Discussions will span from improved understanding of ecosystem dynamics to the practical mechanisms for integrating natural capital into investment portfolios, public policy and conservation strategies.

Global expertise converges in Monaco

The conference will bring together international experts, scientists from natural and economic disciplines, public‑sector institutions and finance professionals. Their aim will be to chart how natural capital can become central to our development models, whether through public policy, conservation strategy or sustainable financing.

Words from the organisers

“The financial institutions and banks have a decisive role to play in supporting the ecological transition, our joining with scientific researchers was obvious,” said Françoise Puzenat, Territory Director at BNP Paribas Monaco. “We are very proud to collaborate with the CSM for three years now on this conference, which allows us to gather in Monaco top‑quality international experts around the idea that natural capital is a true growth lever, while also securing our planet for future generations.”

Dr Nathalie Hilmi, Head of the Environmental Economics Section at the CSM, added: “The resilience of our societies depends on the ability of sustainable finance to redirect our models: moving from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy, where natural capital is recognised as an essential pillar of sustainable development — economic, environmental and social — and where biodiversity preservation determines humanity’s very future.”

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo by Monaco Life

]]> https://monacolife.net/monaco-backed-ocean-innovators-platform-brings-sustainable-finance-momentum-to-hong-kong/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:30:02 +0000 https://monacolife.net/?p=115093 The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Sustainable Finance Initiative co-hosted the ninth edition of the Ocean Innovators Platform (OIP) in Hong Kong on 22nd October, bringing together more than 100 investors, entrepreneurs and conservation leaders to accelerate innovation and financing for the global blue economy.

Held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the event featured panel discussions, fireside chats, pitch sessions and workshops focused on scaling ocean-based solutions through impact-driven investment. The gathering aimed to foster international collaboration across finance, conservation, and technology — particularly in Asia Pacific, a region central to marine biodiversity and economic potential.

From Monaco to Hong Kong: catalysing blue economy finance

The platform is part of Monaco’s broader commitment to sustainable ocean action. “Our task is to make the ocean measurable, investible, and restorable,” said Olivier Wenden, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. “From Monaco’s shores to Victoria Harbour, we can turn ambition into tangible, regenerative growth.”

The discussions examined how innovative financing models and multi-sector partnerships can tackle threats like overfishing, plastic pollution and habitat degradation, while also unlocking new opportunities in ocean energy, sustainable fisheries, and marine conservation technologies.

Katy Yung, CEO of Sustainable Finance Initiative, highlighted Hong Kong’s position as a potential regional hub for blue finance. “With 4.2% of its GDP tied to the maritime industry and home to 25% of China’s marine biodiversity, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to be Asia Pacific’s leading hub for Blue Economy solutions,” she said. “At SFi, we’re acting as a regional bridge for investors seeking credible pathways to scale ocean impact.”

Impact and investment: key takeaways

Speakers and participants agreed that the future of ocean conservation is tightly linked to financial innovation. Key themes emerging from the forum included the alignment of conservation with economic growth, the critical role of transparency and metrics, and the need to build a diverse, collaborative financing ecosystem.

A rapid poll of attendees found strong enthusiasm for action-oriented capital deployment, though many indicated a preference for early-stage investment through grants or private equity/venture capital — pointing to a need for stronger support structures to help ocean-focused projects scale.

Entrepreneurs from ventures such as Plastics for Change, Bound4Blue, Shift4Good and Katapult Ocean Asia pitched their solutions to the audience, sparking active engagement and post-event networking interest.

Interactive workshops tackled challenges like financing ocean innovation in Asia Pacific, decarbonising marine industries, balancing conservation and community livelihoods, and using open data and AI to improve ocean health.

Building the future of the USD 3 trillion ocean economy

The Ocean Innovators Platform was launched by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in 2022 to spotlight scalable solutions and connect innovators with investors. This latest edition underscored the Foundation and SFi’s shared belief that sustainable investment can drive meaningful environmental outcomes while delivering economic value.

With support from AVPN, the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy and Builders Vision, the forum reaffirmed its goal of shaping a future in which the ocean’s resources are protected, measured and harnessed for long-term global prosperity.

The blue economy is forecast to contribute up to USD 3 trillion to global GDP by 2030, according to the OECD — a goal the OIP aims to support by bridging innovation, finance and leadership across borders.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

]]> https://monacolife.net/prince-albert-ii-foundation-honours-champions-of-planetary-health-in-london/ Tue, 21 Oct 2025 12:44:26 +0000 https://monacolife.net/?p=114715 The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation revealed the laureates of its 2025 Planetary Health Awards at the historic 116 Pall Mall in London on Friday 17th October, in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Since its inception in 2008, the awards have recognised leading individuals and organisations making vital contributions to the protection of the planet, across three key areas: awareness, science, and innovation.

“Science remains our best hope for the future”

In his opening address, Prince Albert II delivered a stirring message on the need for unity and the central role of science in tackling the escalating environmental crisis. “At a time when divisions deepen and uncertainty grows, science remains our only common language — our bridge to understanding, our foundation for cooperation, and our best hope for the future,” said the Prince.

He called for stronger alliances across disciplines and generations, and reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to empowering those advancing change.

“This mission requires alliances — between policymakers, entrepreneurs, scientists, journalists, artists and activists. Between generations, too: the experienced and the emerging talents we are bringing together through our ReGen Initiative. And, of course, with the outstanding laureates we are about to honour this evening.”

The 2025 Laureates: Driving Change Across the Globe

This year’s award recipients span three continents and exemplify the transformative power of knowledge and practice in the face of planetary challenges.

Awareness: International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)

Led by Emmanuel Faber, the ISSB was honoured for its groundbreaking work in building a global framework for sustainability reporting. Established in 2021 by the IFRS Foundation, the ISSB’s standards — IFRS S1 and IFRS S2 — are reshaping corporate accountability by ensuring transparent, comparable disclosures on climate and sustainability risks.

“We express our gratitude to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation for their recognition of the work of the International Sustainability Standards Board,” said Faber. “Enabling the disclosure of better information to capital markets about sustainability risks and opportunities ultimately supports better decision-making.”

Science: Dr Gavin A. Schmidt

A leading climate modeller and the Director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Dr Schmidt has authored more than 170 scientific papers and developed key modelling tools now essential to climate research. His commitment to public engagement has also played a critical role in raising awareness and informing policy globally.

“It is immensely gratifying to have my work and outreach recognised by the Foundation as being vital for planetary health,” said Dr Schmidt. “This would not have been possible without the contributions from my many colleagues who have worked with me for decades to support and improve our scientific understanding around climate change.”

Innovation & Solutions: Ernst Götsch

Swiss agronomist and farmer Ernst Götsch received the Innovation Award for his development of syntropic agriculture — a regenerative farming method inspired by forest ecosystems. His approach, pioneered in Brazil, has proven that agriculture can restore biodiversity, regenerate soil health, and remain economically viable without synthetic inputs.

“To have been honoured to receive the Planetary Health Award is a great encouragement to continue with even more energy what I began five decades ago,” Götsch said. “It is an opening of a window, a flash of hope, that one day, together, we will come to a reconciliation with our splendid, infinitively generous Mother Earth.”

A Call for Global Cooperation

Following the awards, the three laureates took part in a panel discussion moderated by Lovelda Vincenzi, reflecting on the key turning points in their careers and the collaborative effort required to create systemic change.

Their conversation reinforced a central theme of the evening: that addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis will require a combined effort across governance, science, private enterprise and local communities.

The evening ceremony concluded a significant day for the Prince Albert II Foundation, which also convened its Board of Directors and international Branch Presidents earlier in the day.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Main photo credit: Michael Alesi, Prince’s Palace

]]> https://monacolife.net/monaco-enters-e1-world-champion-as-prince-unveils-electric-racing-boat/ Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:51:01 +0000 https://monacolife.net/?p=114839 Monaco didn’t have a team to represent it at the UIM E1 World Championship. But, now it finally does. On October 20th, at Sportel Monaco, Prince Albert II unveiled Team Monaco’s electric racing boat, marking the Principality’s official entry into the championship. 

The team, which will compete from the start of the 2026 season, was co-founded by Monaco resident Chris Taylor and 11-time World Kite Foil Champion Maxime Nocher. Speaking to Monaco Life at the launch, Taylor explained how the partnership came about.

“I met Max at Lake Mashuri. He was keen to get involved, while I was really keen on boat racing and the whole idea of E1,” Taylor said. “We met 18 months ago, so it’s taken us quite a while to get here, but we’re here today. It’s a very proud moment, very proud.”

Racing against celebrity-backed teams

E1 is the world’s first all electric race boat championship, featuring teams with both male and female pilots racing in cities including Jeddah, Doha, Monaco and Miami. The electric RaceBirds compete on tight circuits, with existing teams owned by celebrities including LeBron James, Will Smith, Rafael Nadal and Tom Brady. 

Team Monaco will race under number 98, Monaco’s country code, and aims to align with both the Prince Albert II Foundation’s mission to regenerate the oceans and the Princess Charlene Foundation’s efforts to reduce drownings through education.

Regarding their ambitions for 2026, the founders showed competitive spirit balanced with realism. “We’re aiming for the podium every race,” Nocher said. “I mean, we have a really competitive team and we want to achieve great things.”

Meanwhile, Taylor added with a laugh: “Max said he wants to win the championship in 2026. I said, ‘2027, let’s go for it. ’26, podiums.’ You never know.”

Unlike other E1 teams backed by individual celebrities, Team Monaco represents an entire nation. “How can it not be an advantage when you’ve got an entire country rooting for you?” Taylor said. “We feel very confident Monaco’s going to support us well. We’re looking forward to it. So, thank you all in Monaco.”

Monaco already hosts one of the most prestigious stops on the E1 calendar at Port Hercule each summer around the Yacht Club de Monaco, which Nocher and Taylor describe as their “spiritual home”.

Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of E1, said: “Team Monaco embodies everything E1 stands for – performance, technology, and purpose. We’re thrilled to welcome Team Monaco as E1 continues to inspire the next generation of sustainable innovators.”

Additionally, Rodi Basso, founder and chief executive officer of E1, added: ” Monaco has been a cornerstone of the E1 calendar, and the launch of its own team takes this relationship to new heights. With the Principality’s leadership in sustainability and innovation, Team Monaco perfectly reflects our ongoing commitment to ocean preservation.

See also: 

Dramatic crash shakes E1 Monaco as championship leaders face setback

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Main photo credit: Monaco Life. 

This is not a story about coral being harvested for high-end jewellery. Quite the opposite. This is about protecting an ancient species on the brink — Mediterranean red coral (Corallium rubrum) — and, through it, safeguarding an entire ecosystem and unlocking scientific knowledge with global implications.

Red Coral: Iconic, Endangered, Essential

Coveted for millennia, red coral has adorned religious relics, royal crowns, and necklaces from Rome to Rajasthan. But beneath its ornamental value lies an ecological role far more precious.

Red coral is a cornerstone species in the Mediterranean. It grows slowly, just a few millimetres a year, and forms habitats for an entire community of marine life, from invertebrates to algae. But decades of overharvesting, pollution and climate change have left it vulnerable. Now classified as endangered, it is also considered an “umbrella species”: protect it, and you protect everything that lives around it.

Monaco, one of the smallest countries in the world, is quietly becoming one of the biggest players in preserving it.

A Lab in the Sea

Under the direction Stéphanie Reynaud, the CSM’s Unit for the Biology of Precious Corals has not only studied red coral in the lab, but taken the research 40 metres below the surface of the Mediterranean.

There, nestled near Monaco’s coastline, are six artificial underwater caves, each a concrete pod lined with coral plates, where the scientists are testing conditions for coral reproduction and survival.

“In the second year, we saw about 250 baby corals. By the third year, we reached 650,” Stéphanie Reynaud tells me. “It’s become a true underwater laboratory. Every year, we track survival and growth rates.”

From these submerged nurseries to genomic sequencing, microbiome analysis and skeletal formation studies, the breadth of research is impressive. To date, the collaboration has led to 23 publications in leading scientific journals, and two doctoral theses are now underway.

Science Meets Sustainability

For Chanel, this partnership isn’t a branding exercise. It’s not even about jewellery.

“We don’t use red coral in our collections,” says Frédéric Grangié, President of Chanel Horlogerie-Joaillerie. “That’s not why we started this. From the very beginning, we were clear: this is about preservation, not exploitation.”

Grangié was one of the early champions of the partnership, personally attending steering committee meetings in Monaco twice a year. “We made a long-term commitment because scientific research needs time. You can’t expect breakthroughs on a deadline.”

The results, he says, have been deeply gratifying.

“We didn’t anticipate 23 publications. We didn’t anticipate such success with coral cultivation. We hoped. But the scale of what’s been achieved—it’s extraordinary.”

More than that, some of the research has begun to show unexpected relevance in other fields, including medicine. “Because red coral is an animal, like us, there are fascinating insights into its microbiome that may apply to human health. It’s opened doors we never imagined when we started,” he adds.

Shared Values: Time, Patience, Precision

On Thursday 16th March, in the presence of Princess Caroline, Frédéric Grangié renewed Chanel’s funding for the CSM’s red coral research programme for another six years.

So what links a luxury brand with a team of marine biologists? More than one might think.

“We can’t just publish findings rapidly. We need time for verification. What we’re aiming for is excellence and quality — values we share,” reveals Sylvie Tambutté, Scientific Director of the CSM. “There’s expertise in a fine jewellery house; we have expertise in a scientific centre like ours. We share many common values, and that makes this collaboration truly meaningful.”

The partnership is also driven by a deep sense of responsibility. As Frédéric Grangié puts it, “This is what we stand for as a company. We’ve done it before, with the flowers in Grasse for our No°5 fragrance. From the beginning, the goal was to preserve the quality and eco-environment of those flowers, to ensure that same quality endures for the next century. In many ways, that commitment is part of our DNA as an independent, family-owned business. You have to care — truly care — about these things.”

The Promise of Regeneration

At the heart of the research lies one key question: can we bring red coral back?

The early signs are promising. Mortality rates of baby corals in the underwater caves are relatively low — around 40–45%. The team is now analysing different substrates to understand where coral larvae best attach and grow, and how environmental factors like current and temperature influence outcomes.

“Coral is resilient, but only if we reduce the pressures — temperature spikes, pollution, fishing,” says Reynaud. “With marine protected areas, and if we manage local stressors, recovery is possible.”

The team is also investigating the coral’s microbiome — what role do its resident bacteria play in growth, immunity, even skeletal formation? In one of the more striking discoveries, researchers found fungi previously unknown to science living symbiotically within the coral, potentially playing essential roles in its survival.

Beyond the Mediterranean

While red coral is the focus, the implications of the work reach far beyond the Mediterranean basin.

“The science being done here could influence marine restoration efforts globally,” says Tambutté. “What we learn about coral health, reproduction, and stress resilience can inform strategies in other parts of the world, especially as marine heatwaves become more frequent.”

CSM’s work is already aligned with global frameworks like the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), and the research is being integrated into broader environmental policy discussions — including those at the One Ocean Science Congress in Nice, the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, and Monaco’s own Blue Economy initiatives.

Corporate Commitment Without Commercial Strings

In an age where “greenwashing” is a constant risk, Chanel’s involvement stands apart for its authenticity and depth.

“There’s no hidden agenda,” Grangié says. “This isn’t necessarily about launching a red coral jewellery line. We feel that the private sector also has a duty to support this type of organisation, and that eventually, red coral will tell us more — about us, about global warming, about ocean acidification, and obviously the Mediterranean.”

The partnership is a reminder that corporations, when aligned with integrity and purpose, can be powerful allies in solving complex global challenges.

Looking ahead

With the partnership now extended through to 2031, the next chapter of this ambitious programme aims to delve even deeper—into the coral’s genome, its resilience under environmental stress, and the potential to reintroduce cultivated red coral into the wild on a much larger scale.

“We’re just getting started,” says Sylvie Tambutté. “The goal is clear: to restore, protect, and conserve this species as best as possible. Red coral is iconic. It’s also an ecosystem on its own.”

Chanel’s Frédéric Grangié shares that long-term vision. “What I’d love most? That in ten years, we could take people diving, and show them red coral growing again. That would be the ultimate legacy.”

But for Grangié, the stakes—and possibilities—go even further. “Based on the meetings today and the research meetings yesterday—the discovery in terms of the universal microbiome could have some exciting medical applications in the future.”

Until then, red coral’s survival story continues to unfold—in peer-reviewed journals, in the underwater caves just off Monaco’s coast, and in the quiet, determined partnership between science and style.

See also: 

Podcast: Exploring ocean conferences and climate science with CSM’s Dr Venn

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Main photo credit: Charly Gallo – CSM, all photos sourced from the CSM

Speaking at the closing of the afternoon’s conference on future energy and vehicles at One Monte-Carlo, the Prince highlighted Monaco’s achievements while stressing the need for continued efforts.

The Prince noted that electric and hybrid vehicles now represent 20% of Monaco’s vehicle fleet, up from 2% a decade ago. “These figures demonstrate massive change, but it is still insufficient,” he said. “That’s why we must go even further and faster to drastically reduce the number of thermal vehicles.”

He also criticised moves by some states and regional organisations to delay the end of combustion engine production. “We must mobilise to make the case for maintaining, or even accelerating, the timetables,” he said. “We must make it clear that our collective future is at stake, because the transport sector accounts for around a third of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming.”

Twenty years of progress

Reflecting on Ever Monaco’s two-decade history, the Prince described how electric mobility has shifted from utopia to reality. “The story of clean mobility was a utopia carried by a few adventurous minds. It is now proven reality on every continent, with every manufacturer,” he said.

He pointed to Monaco’s early adoption of policies to encourage non-polluting mobility, including financial incentives, dedicated sporting events like the Riviera Electric Challenge, and expanded charging infrastructure in car parks and public spaces.

“We have taken several early and quite bold steps to encourage the development of non-polluting mobility, facilitate its expansion and of course support users,” the Prince said.

However, Prince Albert II highlighted that the mobility transition involves more than simply replacing old technology with new. “Like all major changes, the evolution of mobility does not simply substitute a new technology for an old one,” he said. “It triggers chain reactions that are opportunities to bring new solutions to light and in turn spark further innovation.”

He outlined three key parameters shaping mobility’s future: technical advances demonstrated at events like Ever Monaco, regulatory frameworks needed to pursue climate preservation, and changing lifestyles linked to digital solutions.

Following his speech, he toured the exhibition stands at One Monte-Carlo, speaking with representatives from participating companies and organisations.

Lastly, the Prince visited stands including Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, Monaco Bus Company, SMEG, and start-ups such as Green One and Skwheel, amongst others. He spent time at each stand engaging with representatives about their sustainable mobility solutions.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Main photo credit: Monaco Life

The event, organised by the Automobile Club de Monaco, is a regularity rally exclusively for fully electric vehicles. This year’s competition features 37 different models from 17 manufacturers.

Among the participants is Camille Gottlieb, the Prince’s niece and daughter of Princess Stephanie of Monaco, who is partnering with Margaux Grundstein. The pair won the FIA consumption category last year and are hoping to repeat their success while also promoting Be Safe Monaco, an organisation focused on tackling drink-driving.

Another prominent participant is Italian former Formula 1 driver Stefano Modena, who previously competed in multiple Grand Prix races. He is racing alongside co-driver Jack Scarlett Richardson.

Several other Monegasque teams are competing including Olivier Campana and Nicolas Milanesio, who finished second in last year’s event. Campana, who serves as deputy general manager of the Yacht Club de Monaco, is competing in his fifth rally.

After the ceremonial start, competitors immediately faced two regularity stages, including a night-time run through the famous Col de Turini. Thursday’s programme includes four more stages through the Alps and Italian Piedmonth, with crews tackling the Col de la Lombarde at over 2,300 metres altitude before returning to Monaco’s Esplanade des Pêcheurs around 6pm.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

More photos of the depart can be found in the gallery below…(all photos credit: Monaco Life)

The two-day event runs until Thursday evening, when winners of a start-up competition with €20,000 in prizes will be announced.

Desert racing tests electric limits

The Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc, a women-only off-road rally held annually in Morocco, shared how desert racing has contributed to electric vehicle development. The rally introduced an electric vehicle category in 2017 and is ISO 14001 certified for environmental management.

Dominique Serra, founder and director of the rally, speaking to Monaco Life, explained the technical challenges faced in extreme conditions.

“When we set up the electric category, we had to make improvements to the vehicles for batteries, cooling and kilometre optimisation,” she said. “We’ve been able to provide information so that we can work more sustainably and concretely on vehicles in the city.”

The rally initially created a separate electric route due to range constraints. “We didn’t have charging points all along the desert,” Serra said. “Battery optimisation was very important because you had to check that you were taking the most direct route possible to save your battery.”

However, retrofit technology has changed the picture. “For two years now, we’ve integrated retrofit vehicles into the race and the four-wheel-drive category,” she said. “It’s been a real performance and success.”

Serra, though, was clear about current limitations. “We hope to have 100% electric four-wheel-drives. It’s not quite ready yet, because the manufacturers aren’t quite there.”

She also noted what she sees as different approaches to sustainable technology. “Women are more pragmatic,” she said. “Women don’t just look for power and speed, they also look for what they can do in terms of use and relevance of use.”

Monaco’s electric infrastructure

SMEG, Monaco’s electricity and gas company which has operated in Monaco for over 133 years, outlined its electric mobility services at the event. David Passini, a sales representative at the company, explained that the Mobee car-sharing system now runs approximately 80 vehicles available to both Monaco residents and visitors.

The service includes Renault Twizys for journeys within Monaco and neighbouring towns like Cap d’Ail, Beausoleil and Roquebrune, while Smart and Tesla Model 3 vehicles allow users to travel freely across the PACA region in France and into the Italian regions of Liguria and Piemonte.

On electricity sourcing, Passini told Monaco Life: “Any electric contract up to 36 KVA has 100% green electricity guaranteed in the contract.” The 36 KVA threshold covers most standard residential properties in Monaco.

Wednesday’s session included a morning conference on luxury sector corporate social responsibility, while the afternoon’s conference focused on future energy and vehicles.

Fifteen start-ups pitched throughout the day, competing for prizes from a €20,000 pool including an €8,000 first prize. The companies are developing technologies ranging from CO₂ conversion systems to mobile solar stations and electric foil boats.

Technical roundtables ran in the late afternoon, examining electric vehicle deployment challenges, charging infrastructure rollout, and the role of alternative fuels like hydrogen and bioGNV alongside electrification.

Thursday’s schedule

Thursday morning’s programme continued the technical roundtables on electromobility and renewable energy.

At 2pm, a conference on 20 years of mobility in Monaco will feature Bernard Fautrier, EVER’s honorary president, Deputy Mayor Marjorie Crovetto, SMEG’s Anthony Dupont, and Environment Minister Céline Caron Dagioni.

The start-up competition winners will be announced at 3:30.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Main photo credit: Monaco Life. 

According to the Mare Plasticum report by the IUCN, over 200,000 tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into the Mediterranean Sea each year. In response, BeMed is inviting NGOs, associations, municipalities, small businesses and academic institutions across the region to apply for grants of up to €15,000 to develop local, replicable solutions.

Applications are open until 5th January 2026, and projects may run for 12 to 24 months.

Who can apply?

The call is open to 18 Mediterranean countries including Monaco, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Albania, Lebanon, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.

Priority will be given to initiatives based in Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Montenegro, Tunisia and Turkey – countries considered particularly impacted by plastic waste and in need of additional support.

What kind of projects are eligible?

BeMed is looking to support concrete local actions that reduce plastic at its source, raise awareness, improve waste management, and contribute to scientific data collection or regulatory change. Past examples include educational programmes for school children in Tunisia, sustainable tourism initiatives in Albania, and marine waste data gathering in Spain.

Each selected project should have tangible results and the potential to be replicated in other parts of the Mediterranean.

Why it matters

BeMed has already supported more than 120 projects since its founding, helping to build a strong, cross-border network of environmental actors committed to reducing plastic waste across the region.

“This call for micro-initiatives is an opportunity for local communities to turn their ideas into action,” says the organisation. “Plastic pollution is not only a marine issue – it’s a health, economic and social challenge that requires grassroots solutions.”

The programme is backed by several major environmental funders, including the Didier and Martine Primat Foundation, the Aether Fund of the Foundation for Future Generations, the Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial, KRESK 4 OCEANS, and the Sancta Devota Foundation.

How to apply

Full details, including the application form and eligibility requirements, are available on the BeMed website: www.beyondplasticmed.org

The deadline for submissions is 5th January 2026.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo of Prince Albert II, credit: Axel Bastello

On October 9th, the Prince visited the Alonissos National Marine Park, Europe’s largest protected marine area, where he explored underwater caves known to harbour the critically threatened Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). The visit marks a significant moment in Monaco’s long standing commitment to preserving Mediterranean marine life.

“You can only protect what you know,” Prince Albert II said, outlining the importance of direct observation and understanding of species and their habitats. “By respecting living creatures and their living spaces, we manage to preserve them better.”

The visit took place aboard vessels provided by Greece’s Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency, to reach the island of Skopelos, where he personally explored the famous caves that shelter the monk seals. He later returned to the MODX 70-01, the support vessel for Monaco Explorations’ current mission, before travelling to Alonissos island.

The monk seal represents one of the Mediterranean’s greatest conversation challenges. The species is critically threatened, with the population severely impacted by habitat loss, fishing entanglement, and human disturbance.

On its part, Monaco’s involvement in protecting the species stretches back years. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has long supported the Monk Seal Alliance, which works to protect the seals and their habitats across the Mediterranean.

Building bridges between science and protection

During his time in Alonissos, Prince Albert II met with park rangers, local researchers, conservation associations and fishermen working to safeguard marine wildlife and promote responsible fishing practices. Among those present were representatives from Greece’s environment ministry and the Thalassa Foundation.

The visit forms part of the broader ‘Mediterranean Missions’ launched by Monaco’s Explorations programme in October. This initiative, which runs until 2030, aims to accelerate the protection and effective management of marine protected areas across the Mediterranean. The region, despite covering just 0.8 per cent of the ocean’s surface, is home to 7.5 per cent of the world’s marine species.

More than that, the Mediterranean faces unprecedented challenges. Warming at 20% faster than the global average, the sea suffers from plastic pollution, overfishing, invasive species, and coastal development. Around 58% of the region’s fish stocks are now overfished, threatening both the ecosystem and food safety for local communities.

Yet the region also offers solutions. Marine protected areas, when properly designed and managed, function as sanctuaries for biodiversity and vital tools of climate resilience

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok

Main photo: Prince Albert II with Vera Alexandropoulou, Vice President of the Thalassa Foundation; Petros Varelidis, Secretary General of the Greek Ministry of the Environment; and Vassili G. Apostolopoulos, Consul of Monaco in Greece, at the port of Patitiri, Alonissos. Source: Monaco Explorations.