CC Forum Monaco highlights

CC Forum, the first major conference to be held in Monaco since the Covid health crisis began, has put sustainable investment at the forefront of discussions while proving that conferences can still go ahead safely in the Principality.
The first edition of CC Forum Monaco was held on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th September at the Fairmont Hotel under the theme of investment in sustainable development. It followed three successful forums in London and was supported by Prince Albert II of Monaco.
“The Monegasque edition of CC Forum was a tremendous success,” Max Studennikoff, Chairman and Founder of CC Forum, told Monaco Life. “We have proven to the world that the live format of conferences can be a success even under Covid circumstances. It was particularly important to hold a live edition totally dedicated to sustainability in the context of the current health and economic crises.”
The event attracted more than 500 participants and featured a diverse array of speakers including HRH Queen Diambi Kabatusuila Tshiyoyo Muata of the Democratic Republic of Congo, “The Steve Jobs of sustainability” Gunter Pauli, and billionaire Per Wimmer, who is scheduled to fly to the moon in 2021 with Sir Richard Branson.

Per Wimmer, Max Studennikoff and Prince Albert

Among the topics discussed were ‘Biodiversity: the next frontier in financial risk management’, ‘Sustainable investment in start-ups’, and ‘Rethinking the global paradigm: What are the ways of averting the disaster?’.
It was the first major conference hosted in Monaco since the Covid-19 health crisis hit.
“We were seriously thinking about postponing the event and going for a webinar format,” revealed the forum’s founder, “and even one week before our scheduled dates it was not at all certain if we were going ahead.”
In the days leading up to the forum, some high-profile speakers were forced to pull out of the event, including His Eminence Cardinal Turkson, the head of sustainability and human development at the Vatican.
But the forum still managed to go ahead, in accordance with the Monaco government’s strict health measures.
“Yes, there were challenges, but we overcame them,” said Mr Studennikoff.
The conference culminated in a black-tie gala on Friday night at the Monte-Carlo Sporting, during which Maestro Placido Domingo was awarded for his lifelong support of the victims of natural disasters.
Maestro Placido Domingo

“The world of music, often experienced only as entertainment, in recent months has instead demonstrated an enormous ability to raise awareness and to comfort people,” said Maestro Domingo, who also performed during the gala. “I am convinced that we all have a duty to preserve the world we live in, especially for future generations, because our health coincides with that of our planet.”
Stanley Johnson, the father of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was awarded for a lifetime of environmental campaigning, although he was unable to make the ceremony.
Julian Lennon was also rewarded for his philanthropic work through his White Feather Foundation, which helps raise funds for various projects dedicated to the betterment of life for all.
HRH Queen Diambi Kabatusuila Tshiyoyo Muata of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Julian Lennon and Soprano Isabelle Kabatu

“Recently, I had the pleasure of executive producing an important film about soil regeneration called ‘Kiss the ground’ now available to view on Netflix, which offers a tangible and feasible solution to a catastrophic problem,” Julian Lennon told Monaco Life. “It is through projects like this that my hope is renewed and that our future in the natural world can be saved.”
“A highlight for me was HSH Prince Albert, CC Forum’s patron, attending the champagne reception at the black-tie gala,” said Max Studennikoff. “The Prince was very pleased with the success of the conference, which helped the Principality further enhance its reputation as one of the global centres of sustainability. We even briefly discussed the possibility of organising a Monaco Sustainability Week next year when the pandemic hopefully subsides.”
The D12 hybrid supercar by Delage, photo by Monaco Life

Another highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the D12 hybrid supercar by historic French carmaker Delage. Only 30 models of the futuristic-looking vehicle will be sold from the year 2022 for a price tag of €2 million.
The next edition of CC Forum will be held in the Middle East and its founder is confident the event will become a regular on Monaco’s calendar.
“Given the sheer amount of interest in our Monegasque edition and the warm welcome, it is safe to assume that Monaco will be another annual event on an equal footing with London,” said Mr Studennikoff. “Overall, I humbly believe that we have achieved our mission: alerting the investors’ community to the fact that urgent action needs to be taken in order to preserve the planet as we know it today for future generations. We should innovate responsibly and invest sustainably.”
 
Top photo: CC Forum Monaco, by Monaco Life
 
 
 

Storm warning

Storm ‘Alex’ is hitting the region, bringing with it strong winds, heavy rain, high seas and possible hail.
According to Météo-France, the storm system will sweep across the French Riviera and Monaco from Thursday to Friday night, bringing intense thunderstorms and strong winds.
Gusts are expected to reach as high as 100 km/h and whip up waves of up to four metres.
Strong thunderstorms are due to intensify early Friday morning in the west with significant rainfall from the early afternoon. Up to 200mm of rain is expected to fall within 24 hours cross the region, prompting a flood warning for the Alpes-Maritimes department. Hail is also anticipated.
While authorities in the Alpes-Maritimes have closed all schools on Friday, the Monaco government has not done the same as the flood risk is not as great in the Principality as it is in the Alps-Maritimes. However, students who do not go to school on Friday will not be reprimanded.
 
 
Photo: Monaco by Pixabay
 
 

New hospital road open to traffic

A new road and pedestrian walkway have been inaugurated as part of the upgrades being made at the Princess Grace Hospital.

The Princess Grace Hospital Centre (CHPG) is undergoing a number of building projects in order to expand and improve upon the services it already provides.

As part of the expansion and improvement scheme, a new section of road has been built to accommodate development of a site on the mountain side of the hospital. The 200-metre stretch spans from the entrance to the hospital to the exit of the tunnel at the level of Caroubiers to Tamaris. Additionally, a walkway has been created allowing pedestrian access from Avenue Pasteur, including signage to show visitors the way to enter.

The official inauguration of the two new admittance points was held on Wednesday, 30th September with Prince Albert II cutting the ribbon. Also in attendance were Pierre Dartout, Minister of State, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning, and Benoîte de Sevelinges, Director of the CHPG.

The new hospital will house a campus of 103,000 square metres and will include state-of-the-art technical and operating suites as well as 470 beds. Environmental impact and bioclimatic design will ensure the building is energy efficient as well as eco-friendly. The current hospital will remain in operation during the building works, and the new site is expected to be fully completed by 2030.

 
Photo © Communication Department – Manuel Vitali
 
 

Double launch for Energy Transition Mission

Monaco’s Energy Transition Mission has two new additions: a new website and a new ambassador programme aimed at promoting and adding value to the pact. 

On Tuesday, the Energy Transition Mission (MTE) revealed the two new tools to assist in their quest of turning Monaco into a fully digital, energy and waste efficient, carbon neutral state.

Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister of Equipment, Environment and Town Planning, and Frédéric Genta, Interministerial Delegate in Charge of the Digital Transition, officially launched the ‘Carbon Coach Pact’ website, the first of the new elements.

The site is a collaboration between the MTE and the Interministerial Delegation in Charge of Digital Transition and features a complete picture of the goals and aspirations of the mission. The website has listings of their initiatives, events, surveys, challenges and the latest news, as well as an easy online way to sign up and become part of the pact as either an entity or individually.

Long-awaited by signatories, this new tool has all the information regarding procedures, application processes, and choices available in one place with an easy-to-use format. To further assist visitors and show them the impact of their efforts, there will now be a dedicated “eco-gesture sheet” and a detailed estimate of the amount of carbon emissions being prevented from entering the atmosphere.

“The National Pact is not a rigid tool. It adjusts and evolves over time and as needs arise. We adapt and optimise it so that it is as close as possible to reality, the expectations of members and the latest digital developments,” said Marie-Pierre Gramaglia.

The second new addition is the presentation of the ‘Ambassadors of the National Pact Programme’, which founder Julien Vidal says is aimed at promoting and relaying the National Pact to a broader audience. Mr Vidal, who is also founder of eco-citizen movement ‘It begins with me’, spent two hours with the first 10 ambassadors at the end of the event to clarify their roles.

The ambassadors will effectively become spokespeople for the Energy Transition, publicly explaining the pact and its goals. They will be expected to spread the word to their colleagues, employees and community at large and, with the support of the MTE, will provide training, mobilisation, workshops and follow-up.
 
Photo from left to right: Laurie Giacobi, Kate Powers, Benoite de Sevelinges, Sébastien Uscher, Frédéric Genta, Kevin Crovetto, Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux, Victor Langellotti, Jessica Sbaraglia, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Isabelle Biancheri, Julien Vidal, Rémi Feipeler, Céline Cottalorda. © Communication Department – Michael Alesi
 
 

Old and unused books given new life

Two Monegasque associations were able to benefit from the latest book drive in Monaco, which gives old textbooks a new life and underprivileged kids better educational tools.

After a successful drive earlier in summer that saw 1,400 unused textbooks sent to schoolchildren in Tunisia, the Town Hall and Monaco Durable Development (MC2D) have once again joined forces for a second book drive of the year.

The two entities were contacted over the summer by other institutions who were interested in making donations, culminating in another book exchange that took place on Wednesday, 30th September.

The AS Monaco Football Club Training Centre is one such benefactor, offering a large variety of middle and high school level textbooks covering various subjects such as French, history, maths, geography, law, English and economics. In all, about 700 books were collected. In addition, the Technical and Hotel High School was able to contribute six boxes of textbooks and dictionaries, to be distributed in the near future.

Two parties were chosen to be recipients of the generosity. The first is Foot pour L’Ecole Monaco, an association that helps educate children in Cameroon notably by organising football tournaments and offering school supplies.

The second is the recipient of the last round of donations, Association Monaco-Tunisia, which was given 1,400 textbooks earlier this year bequeathed by the Lycee Albert Ier.

For Monaco, the donations represent two advantages. The first, clearly, is being able to help less-fortunate children around the world have access to up-to-date textbooks, thus enabling them to have a better shot at a future. The second is that the books, which may have otherwise found themselves on a rubbish heap, have been given a second life. Finding ways of recycling not just books, but other everyday items, rather than throwing them away adds to the efforts of the local operation Monaco Committed Against Waste (MEG).

On Wednesday, the representatives of the two associations, Alain d’Agostin and his son Clément for Foot for the School and Leïla Trabe-Chiha for Monaco-Tunisia, as well as Virginie Gollino, from the AS Monaco Football Club, gathered in the Cour d’Honneur of the Town Hall around Marjorie Crovetto, Deputy Mayor in charge of the Living Environment and Sustainable Development, as well as Raoul Viora, President of MC2D, for an official delivery of the textbooks.

Photo: Raoul Viora – MC2D, Leïla Trabe-Chiha – Monaco-Tunisie, Marjorie Crovetto – Adjoint au Maire, Virginie Gollino – AS Monaco Football Club, Clément and Alain d’Agostin – Foot pour l’Ecole. Courtesy Mairie de Monaco