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