| Despite being the second smallest country in the | | | | successfully campaigning among world leaders since |
| world Monaco has established herself as the natural | | | | his inauguration two years ago to move the |
| European home for many of the world's wealthiest | | | | environment up the political agenda, and it has |
| men and women due to her tax haven status, with | | | | brought the issue to the fore at home. |
| many more visiting on holiday while cruising the | | | | Prince Albert of Monaco signed the country up for |
| Mediterranean for the Monte Carlo casino - and | | | | the Kyoto Protocol shortly after becoming Sovereign, |
| Monaco has managed to stay as a top destination by | | | | and a few months later left behind the comfort and |
| cleverly spotting and exploiting trends ahead of her | | | | glamour of his palace and Casino Square for the wilds |
| competitiors. | | | | of Antartica to see for himself the damage being |
| And world class yachts and its industry has | | | | caused to the glaciers because of global warming. |
| blossomed over the last ten years, with multi | | | | Upon his return he set up a foundation with his own |
| millionaires and billionaires buying yachts in the tens of | | | | money to study the impact of rising sea levels, and |
| millions of Euros price range - and when it comes to | | | | since then has been active in the attempts to |
| some billionaires they seem intent on buying a fleet | | | | publicise the need to cut CO2 emissions in the |
| that would put some small countries navies to shame. | | | | industrialised world. |
| The Monaco Yacht Show is part of the attraction for | | | | In recent months he has met both Prince Charles and |
| the super-rich, and has firmly established itself as the | | | | President Chirac of France to discuss global warming. |
| leading super yacht show in the world over the last | | | | Although he spent some time in the US in his early |
| fifteen years. For Monaco itself the Yacht Show is | | | | years and speaks English fluently, he hasn't had to |
| second only to the Monaco Grand Prix for visitor | | | | learn Italian and can converse with leaders the world |
| numbers. Combined with the Hotel de Paris and other | | | | over without the need for a translator. |
| Monte Carlo hotels the principality has successfully | | | | Close to the Fontvieille harbour where the yacht |
| secured her position as a natural environment for the | | | | show takes place, a new island is to be built, and the |
| wealthy to live or visit. | | | | bidders have been told that a successful application |
| Monaco is showing that cuts in carbon emissions and | | | | must be environmentally friendly, and some proposals |
| other greenhouse gases are possible in a land of | | | | indicate that the island will be a floating one to avoid |
| plenty, and the Monaco Yacht Show has successfully | | | | any disruption or damage to marine life. |
| achieved carbon neutral status for the 2005 and | | | | With Monaco real estate the second highest priced in |
| 2006 events, with plans to repeat this for 2007, | | | | Europe after London, the new apartment buildings will |
| establishing itself on the map of Monaco as an | | | | be welcomed by the property sector as there is a |
| environmentally friendly event. | | | | very real shortage of property for new residents, |
| To attain carbon neutral status last year, the | | | | forcing prices even higher. One bedroom apartments |
| organisers sponsored various projects in Europe and | | | | are currently exchanging owners at over a million |
| further afield to offset carbon emissions generated | | | | Euros. |
| by the show. | | | | The environmentally friendly island will also include |
| The show paid for wind turbines In New Zealand, | | | | new hotels in Monaco, a university and possibly a |
| generating enough electricity for 45,000 homes and in | | | | museum, with the winning bidder due to be |
| Brittany France paid for a heath to be planted with | | | | announced towards the end of the year in Monte |
| chesnut and oak trees to protect water catchments | | | | Carlo. |
| and provide a recreational area, while in the USA paid | | | | A guide for Monte Carlo and Monaco is available at |
| for a methane capture system, reducing the amounts | | | | Included in the details are a five day weather |
| being emitted by some 95 per cent. | | | | forecast and the casino in Monte Carlo, competing |
| The leadership for the move to a greener State has | | | | with online poker as well ase Monte Carlo hotel |
| come from Sovereign Prince Albert, who has been | | | | information. |