| Just published statistics for the temperature of the | | | | seriously is the annual Monaco Yacht Show, second |
| Mediterranean are better than predicted, and conflict | | | | only to the Monaco F1 in popularity. To attain carbon |
| with some environmental leaders have been saying. | | | | neutral status last year, the organisers sponsored |
| Among the leaders with a Mediterranean coastline | | | | various projects in Europe and further afield to offset |
| none have been campaigning so successfully as Prince | | | | carbon emissions generated by the show. The show |
| Albert of Monaco. | | | | paid for wind turbines In New Zealand, generating |
| Since becoming Soverign of Monaco, Prince Albert | | | | enough electricity for 45,000 homes and in Brittany |
| has let it be known that the environment is a major | | | | France paid for a heath to be planted with chesnut |
| concern of his, and early on in his reign made a visit | | | | and oak trees to protect water catchments and |
| to the North Pole to highlight global warming, and he | | | | provide a recreational area, while in the USA paid for |
| has established a foundation to study among other | | | | a methane capture system, reducing the amounts |
| things, ironically sea temperatures. | | | | being emitted by some 95 per cent. |
| Rising sea temperatures is seen as a major | | | | The leadership for the move to a greener State has |
| contributor to the ice caps melting, and is seen as a | | | | come from Sovereign Prince Albert, who has been |
| controversial part of the green campaign on climate | | | | successfully campaigning among world leaders since |
| change as some scientists argue that sea | | | | his inauguration two years ago to move the |
| temperatures would take hundreds of years to rise | | | | environment up the political agenda, and it has |
| as a direct result of human activity. Quite what Prince | | | | brought the issue to the fore at home. |
| Albert will make of the findings on his own doorstep | | | | Prince Albert signed the country up for the Kyoto |
| isn't known yet. | | | | Protocol shortly after becoming Sovereign, and a few |
| The Mediterranean waters off Monaco caused | | | | months later left behind the comfort and glamour of |
| concern four years ago in 2003 when the water | | | | his palace and Casino Square for the wilds of |
| temperature reached 28 degrees centigrade - 82 | | | | Antartica to see for himself the damage being |
| degrees farenheit - but this year saw temperatures | | | | caused to the glaciers because of global warming. |
| cool considerably to 23 centigrade in July and 24 in | | | | Upon his return he established the foundation with his |
| August. Two other warm years apart from 2003 | | | | own money to study the impact of rising sea levels, |
| were 2001 and 2006. | | | | and since then has been active in the attempts to |
| Commenting on the findings, a local Monaco travel | | | | publicise the need to cut CO2 emissions in the |
| guide states 'There doesn't appear to be a consistent | | | | industrialised world. |
| rise over the years in the water temperatures, and | | | | This year he has met both Prince Charles and |
| they vary year by year, sometimes rising, sometimes | | | | (before the French elections) President Chirac of |
| falling - which would appear fairly natural rather than | | | | France to discuss global warming. Close to the |
| anything that could be seen as particularly alarming | | | | Fontvieille harbour where the yacht show takes |
| with a need for action. Should temperatures rise | | | | place, a new island is to be built, and the bidders |
| consistently for a few years in succession perhaps | | | | have been told that a successful application must be |
| that would indicate something really is going on in the | | | | environmentally friendly, and some proposals indicate |
| Mediterranean around Monaco.' | | | | that the island will be a floating one to avoid any |
| An example of Monaco taking the environment | | | | disruption or damage to marine life. |