Landmark climate report warns of ‘unprecedented’ catastrophes

Natural disasters that used to occur once per century will hit at least once a year by 2050, and sea levels will rise above one metre by the end of the century. These were just some of the many alarming messages to come out of Monaco on Wednesday with the release of the latest assessment of climate change on the world’s oceans and ice caps.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its report at the Oceanographic Museum on Wednesday, concluding its 51st session held in the Principality over previous days. More than 100 scientists from 36 countries worked on the report, titled the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. It is the last of three special reports from the IPCC following last October’s urgent report that showed the world may only have until 2030 to keep global warming below 1.5°C, and August’s report on climate impacts to the planet’s lands.

According to the report, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase strongly, sea levels could rise by over one metre by the end of the century, while underwater heatwaves will devastate marine ecosystems. It is just the latest scientific evidence showing that human-induced warming is rapidly taking the planet down an uncharted path.

“We are in a race between two factors. The first is the human eco-system’s capacity to adapt and the other is the speed of impact of climate change,” said IPCC chair Hoesung Lee during Wednesday’s press conference. “And this report, as well as our previous land report, indicate that we may be losing that race. We need to take immediate and drastic action to cut emissions right now, especially from next year if we want to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century.”

The report reveals that glaciers, snow, ice and permafrost are declining and will continue to do so. This is projected to increase landslides, avalanches, rockfalls and floods. If greenhouse gasses remain high, tropical cyclones and rainfall will become more intense.

“Extreme sea level events that [occur] once per century in the recent past are projected to occur at least once per year at many locations by 2050 in all scenarios,” says the report.

The ocean is absorbing 90% of global warming, reducing the supply of oxygen and nutrients for marine life. Marine heatwaves that sear through the ocean like underwater wildfires have doubled in frequency since 1982 and are increasing in intensity. At this rate, coral reefs will suffer major losses and local extinctions.

Across the ocean, heat, acidification and lower oxygen is set to cut fisheries by a quarter and all marine life by 15% if emissions are not slashed.

Meanwhile, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase strongly, around 70% of near-surface permafrost could be lost. This is an alarming projection because permafrost, or frozen ground, hold large amounts of organic carbon, almost twice the carbon in the atmosphere, and have the potential to significantly increase the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere if they thaw.

“The message has been received, and society and policy makers have the choices in hand to take rapid action as needed to keep those changes under control,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner,  co-chair of IPPC WG2.

The IPCC Special Report is a key reference for world leaders gathering in forthcoming climate and environment negotiations, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Chile in December.

“I find this report to be unprecedented in the fact that it paints a complete picture of changes to water on the planet, from the highest mountain glacier regions to the depths of the oceans,” said Ko Barrett, vice chair of the IPCC. “Water is the lifeblood of the planet and the changes that are highlighted in this report have an impact on everyone.”

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation will be hosting its Monte-Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean on Thursday 26th September, during which millions of euros are expected to be raised for the foundation’s ocean initiatives.

 

 

 

Milan Fashion Week features Monegasque brands

Monaco took Milan by storm on the catwalk at the opening of Fashion Week with the debuts of two up and coming local houses.

Milan Fashion week’s opening ceremony, organised by ready-to wear designer Elena Savò, was marked by the appearances from Monaco-based designers Inessa Creations 4.0 and Beach & Cashmere Monaco.  

Inessa Creations 4.0’s capsule collection by designer Ines Bensalah, a veteran of Monte Carlo Fashion Week, was recognised for her raw talent and beautifully conceived designs, featuring a mix of fluid, light-as-air cover ups and artistically printed body con dresses for ladies, and boldly printed casual wear for men. 

President of the Monegasque Chamber of Fashion, Federica Nardoni Spinetta, showed off her creations for Beach & Cashmere Monaco with a decidedly environmental flair in her collection entitled ‘Save the Ocean, Save the Reef’.

Beach & Cashmere Monaco, Isabella Pozzoli

Spinetta, an avid enthusiast of going plastic-free and caring for the oceans, said in a statement: “Durability and ethics are and must be synonymous with fashion and involve all aspects of the production chain. Eco is a lifestyle, it’s a question of attitude, it’s a dress that carries with the conscience to contribute to a really better world.”

The Representative Office to the Principality in Italy also participated in the Fashion Week festivities by organising a cocktail event bringing together fashionistas and professionals alike. The office’s aim is to promote ‘Destination Monaco’ by presenting the available advantages the Principality has to offer.

Head of the Italian office, Gloria Svezia, referenced the Tourism and Congress Department’s new campaign ‘FOR YOU’, saying: “It’s a way to strengthen the links between Milan and Monaco, a destination that is constantly reinventing itself, a destination for luxury and the art of living, with more and more chic creativity, not to mention its green vocation and its universal values ​​of respect for the environment.” 

FOR YOU was launched earlier this month with the goal of giving visitors a more modern vision of Monaco and its many offerings.

 

MYS series: New Hampshire, for sale by Cecil Wright & Partners

Featuring at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show will be the 62 metre Feadship superyacht New Hampshire, which has recently undergone a complete upgrade.

Delivered in 2005 and built in steel and aluminium, the yacht has been designed by De Voogt and, since her 2016 sale, has undergone nearly €8 million of upgrades.

Custom furnishings have been styled by Pannagan Designs, while mahogany panelling creates a warm and welcoming space inside and out.

Six large suits can accommodate up to nine guests comfortably, and each has their own en suite for complete privacy as well as superking beds. The owner’s suit is located forward on the main deck and is decorated in classic dark mahogany wood panelling with modern features. It boasts a superking bed, two dressing rooms, and spacious bathroom with a his-and-hers shower and underfloor heating.

On the sun deck, guests can enjoy a sunbathing area with loungers and a hot tub with encircling bar. Below, on the upper deck, there is an alfresco dining area for up to 12 guests.

New Hampshire is for sale by Cecil Wright & Partners at the Monaco Yacht Show for €39,950,000.

 

Picnic launches new Jardins des Boulingrins

The Société des Bains de Mer has welcomed 400 guests for a spectacular picnic to celebrate the opening of the Jardins des Boulingrins, which formed part of the recent makeover of Monte Carlo’s Casino Square. 

As part of the My Monte-Carlo Loyalty Programme, Jean-Luc Biamonti, President and CEO of the SBM Group, organised this once-in-a-lifetime picnic with the help of designer Charles Kaisin, to officially open the new gardens. It was held under the theme ‘La chance nous sourit’, loosely translated as ‘Luck smiles on us’.

 Ten top chefs and 52 servers dressed as playing cards were charged with ensuring the satisfaction of guests, who sat at elegantly set tables under red umbrellas.  

Photo: DG / SBM

The fairy-tale themed spectacle was rounded out by mountains of fresh flowers adorning the locale, magicians performing to the delight of attendees, and Niçoise artist Virginie Broquet offering guests illustrated memories from the day.   

The event was part and parcel of SBM’s policy of reinforcing its position within Monaco as the most exclusive destination in Europe for 2020.

Monaco’s largest solar power station unveiled

A giant solar power station has been inaugurated on the roof of Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum, marking a significant milestone in the Principality’s energy transition. Eventually, electricity generated from the station will be used to power the new eco-district.

The major photovoltaic project was launched in April 2019, when the Grimaldi Forum signed a ‘SunE’ contract with SMEG pledging to finance and build the urban solar power station on top of the Principality’s congress and culture centre, and to operate it for at least 15 years.

It was a strategic move, considering the Grimaldi Forum will soon be integrated into the eco-district of the future land extension, which will be a showcase of the country’s energy transition. Electricity generated by the solar power plant will be reinjected into the grid and utilised by nearby buildings, including the Grimaldi Forum and the Anse du Portier shipyard. Eventually, it will meet the energy needs of the entire new neighbourhood.

Photo courtesy: the Grimaldi Forum

Positioned on the coast with a height of just over 15 metres, the building was a perfect candidate for the solar power station. However, it wasn’t an easy process. A number of precautions, studies and ancillary operations were needed, in particular new waterproofing and the positioning of installation anchors. One of the main challenges was to limit the weight of the components as much as possible on the roof of Espace Ravel, the main exhibition hall and the largest area of the Grimaldi Forum.

“Keeping the congress centre running, without any disruption during the construction period, was an additional challenge,” said Sylvie Biancheri, General Manager of the Grimaldi Forum.

But those challenges were overcome and now, at 2,500 m2 and with 1,500 modules producing an annual output of nearly 650 MWh, the Grimaldi Forum is the largest photovoltaic producer in Monaco.

HSH Prince Albert II with, from left to right: R.Rolland – Administrator of the Domains of Monaco, A. Jaeger-Seydoux – Director of the Mission for Energy Transition, C.Gomez – Director General in the Equipment Department, Environment and Urbanism, JL. Nguyen – Director of Public Works, H. Fissore – President of the Grimaldi Forum Monaco, Bernard Fautrier – Vice-President and Managing Director of the Prince Albert II Foundation, Minister Plenipotentiary in charge of missions to the Ministry of State for Development Issues sustainable, MP. Gramaglia – Government Counselor – Minister of Equipment, Environment and Urbanism, Sylvie Biancheri – Managing Director of Grimaldi Forum Monaco, A. Cardoso – President of SMEG, T. Battaglione – Director Director General of the SMEG. Photo courtesy: the Grimaldi Forum

“We opted for the high-efficiency sunpower E22-360-com solar panel technology that is up to 20% more efficient than traditional modules,” revealed Thomas Battaglione, Managing Director of SMEG. “The annual production of about 640,000 kWh will supply electricity to the equivalent of 170 households in the Principality.”

The construction of the Grimaldi Forum solar power plant is part of the Government of Monaco’s proactive energy transition policy.

Meanwhile, the Grimaldi Forum has long built a green policy into its corporate strategy, obtaining ISO 14 0001 certification in 2008, one of the first convention centres in the world to achieve the international environmental performance standards. Within 10 years, the congress and culture centre has managed to cut its overall water consumption by 2.5, increase its recycling efforts by 2.5, and reduce its energy consumption by 25%. An agreement with SMEG also allows it to consume 100% green energy.

 

Women’s issues a hot topic at Vienna conference

Monaco has reaffirmed its support for the fight against women-specific cancers at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

As Director General of the Department of External Relations and Cooperation, Isabelle Rosabrunetto attended the 63rd IAEA General Conference from 16th to 20th September in the Austrian capital. There, she relayed Monaco’s intentions to cooperate with the international community for the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology, especially those pertaining to the environment and health.

Since 1961, the Principality has been the home base to the IAEA’s environmental laboratories and have been consistent financial contributors to the agency’s Program of Action for Cancer Therapy, which helps to improve oncological care in developing countries.  

To this end, a new initiative by the agency to combat women-specific cancers is now underway and it was announced that continued support would be made available for this effort. The initiative was debuted at the IAEA Scientific Forum under the theme of ‘Ten years fighting against cancer and the way forward’.

In addition to assuring Monaco’s continued support, Ms Rosabrunetto honoured the memory of former IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, who passed away in July.