Monte Carlo Yacht Show 2007 To Be Carbon Neutral

The European superyacht industry has blossomedbeing emitted by some 95 per cent.
over the last ten years, with multi millionaires andPrince Albert
billionaires buying yachts in the tens of millions ofThe leadership for the move to a greener Monaco
Euros price range - and when it comes to somehas come from Sovereign Prince Albert, who has
billionaires they seem intent on buying a fleet thatbeen successfully campaigning among world leaders
would put some small countries navies to shame.since his inauguration two years ago to move the
Despite being the second smallest country in theenvironment up the political agenda, and it has
world Monaco has established herself as the naturalbrought the issue to the fore at home.
European home for many of the world's wealthiestPrince Albert signed Monaco up for the Kyoto
men and women due to her tax haven status, withProtocol shortly after becoming Sovereign, and a few
many more visiting on holiday while cruising themonths later left behind the comfort and glamour of
Mediterranean for the Monte Carlo casino - andhis palace and Casino Square for the wilds of
Monaco has managed to stay as a top destination byAntartica to see for himself the damage being
cleverly spotting and exploiting trends ahead of hercaused to the glaciers because of global warming.
competitiors.Upon his return he set up a foundation with his own
The Monaco Yacht Show is part of the attraction formoney to study the impact of rising sea levels, and
the super-rich, and has firmly established itself as thesince then has been active in the attempts to
leading super yacht show in the world over the lastpublicise the need to cut CO2 emissions in the
fifteen years. For Monaco itself the Yacht Show isindustrialised world.
second only to the Monaco Grand Prix for visitorIn recent months he has met both Prince Charles and
numbers. Combined with the Hotel de Paris and otherPresident Chirac of France to discuss global warming.
Monaco hotels the principality has successfullyAlthough he spent some time in the US in his early
secured her position as a natural environment for thedays and speaks English fluently, he hasn't had to
wealthy to live or visit.learn French and can converse with leaders the world
Monaco is showing that cuts in carbon emissions andover without the need for a translator.
other greenhouse gases are possible in a land ofClose to the Fontvieille harbour where the yacht
plenty, and the Monaco Yacht Show has successfullyshow takes place, a new island is to be built, and the
achieved carbon neutral status for the 2005 andbidders have been told that a successful application
2006 events, with plans to repeat this for 2007,must be environmentally friendly, and some proposals
establishing itself on the map of Monaco as anindicate that the island will be a floating one to avoid
environmentally friendly event.any disruption or damage to marine life.
To attain carbon neutral status last year, theWith real estate in Monaco the highest priced in
organisers sponsored various projects in Europe andEurope, the new apartment buildings will be
further afield to offset carbon emissions generatedwelcomed by the property sector as there is a very
by the show.real shortage of property for new residents, forcing
The show paid for wind turbines In New Zealand,prices even higher. One bedroom apartments are
generating enough electricity for 45,000 homes and incurrently exchanging owners at over a million Euros.
Brittany France paid for a heath to be planted withThe environmentally friendly island will also include
chesnut and oak trees to protect water catchmentsnew Monaco hotels, a university and possibly a
and provide a recreational area, while in the USA paidmuseum, with the winning bidder due to be
for a methane capture system, reducing the amountsannounced towards the end of the year.