Monaco Yacht Show Has Zero Carbon Footprint For 2007

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