In the lead-up to the 2025 Monaco E-Prix, Formula E has announced a €25,000 donation to SheCanHeCan, a local non-profit working to promote gender equality and menstrual equity through education and access.
The donation is part of Formula E’s Better Futures Fund, which supports community initiatives in each race location. This year, SheCanHeCan’s Monarègles project is the chosen beneficiary in Monaco. The initiative aims to make the Principality the world’s first period-equal country by providing free organic period products and fostering inclusive menstrual education in schools, public spaces, and workplaces.
Vibeke Thomsen, Founder and Director of SheCanHeCan, said: “The financial support from Formula E will enable SheCanHeCan to profoundly transform the conversation around periods in high-performance sports, while rendering visible female athletes and creating inclusive spaces for the communities in Formula E host cities.”
She added: “With the support of Formula E, we aspire to make Monaco the first period-equal country in the world, providing a more inclusive environment for all team members and improving our community’s quality of life.”
The funding will allow SheCanHeCan to deliver workshops to all Year 8 students in Monaco in the coming academic year, while also expanding access to menstrual products and education to more than 1,400 people across the Principality.
“At Formula E, sustainability extends beyond environmental impact – it’s also about creating fairer, more inclusive societies,” said Julia Pallé, Vice President of Sustainability at Formula E. “By partnering with an organisation that is leading the charge in period equity, we’re using our global platform to break taboos, raise awareness, and drive lasting change.”
During race weekend on the 3rd and 4th May, SheCanHeCan will also host awareness events and participate in Formula E’s FIA Girls on Track programme. Organic period products will be available at Formula E-managed facilities throughout the event.
This season, the Better Futures Fund will distribute €25,000 to local causes in each of its 10 host cities, totalling €250,000 in charitable support.
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Photos: Princess Charlene leads day of aquatic awareness at Louis-ii Stadium
Ahead of the 2025 Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament, Princess Charlene welcomed over 100 children to a special Water Safety day aimed at teaching lifesaving skills and raising awareness of drowning prevention.
On Thursday 24th April, the swimming pool of the Louis-II Stadium in Monaco was transformed into a hub of learning and laughter as the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation hosted its latest Water Safety initiative. The morning event, which took place in advance of the international Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament this weekend, was attended by Princess Charlene herself and brought together children from nine different nations for a dynamic introduction to aquatic rescue.
Photo source: Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
Organised under the direction of Pierre Frolla, world champion freediver and Ambassador of the Foundation, the event was part of the foundation’s broader mission to combat drowning worldwide — a cause close to the Princess’s heart. With support from the Monegasque Academy of the Sea, children aged 8 to 12 were guided through a series of workshops combining hands-on water safety instruction with team-building games.
The 108 children in attendance represented the nine international teams participating in this year’s tournament — hailing from Mauritius, Ecuador, New Zealand, Argentina, the USA, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, and Georgia. For many of them, it was their very first experience of formal aquatic rescue training.
Photo source: Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
The aquatic programme included modules such as CPR basics, water polo, rescue techniques using tubes and pulling methods, non-swimmer ball games, diving board challenges, and an obstacle course. Alongside the poolside sessions, three land-based workshops were offered by the Monaco Red Cross, the Monaco Anti-Doping Committee, and the Monaco Olympic Committee, promoting holistic values around health, responsibility, and teamwork.
“This kind of day is about more than just swimming,” said Pierre Frolla. “It’s about empowering young people to act in emergencies, to understand water risks, and to support each other — wherever they come from, whatever sport they play.”
Photo source: Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
As the children left the poolside with beaming smiles, many having completed CPR and rescue drills for the first time, the message was clear: water safety saves lives — and learning it can be fun, too.
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Photos source: Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation
Scientists add new warning levels as coral deaths surge
As the most intense coral bleaching event in recorded history continues to unfold, scientists are raising urgent alarms that the window to save the world’s reefs is narrowing. Yet, as Alexander Venn explained to Monaco Life’s Cassandra Tanti, there is still time to act — and with swift, decisive intervention, the vibrant “rainforests of the sea” may still have a future.
The fourth global coral bleaching event, already considered the most widespread and destructive on record, continues to unfold with no clear end in sight. From January 2023 to March 2025, heat stress linked to climate change has impacted 84% of the world’s coral areas, with 82 countries and territories experiencing damage. Scientists have described the scale of this event as “unprecedented” — and have responded by expanding the global Bleaching Alert system with three new risk levels.
Previously capped at Level 2, the system now extends to Level 5, which signals a near-certain loss of over 80% of coral cover in the hardest-hit zones.
Dr. Alexander Venn, head of the Physiology and Biochemistry team at the Scientific Centre of Monaco
“It’s the coral reef equivalent of adding Category 6 and 7 to the hurricane scale,” said Dr. Alexander Venn, head of the Physiology and Biochemistry team at the Scientific Centre of Monaco. Speaking exclusively to Monaco Life, he explained that this escalation reflects not only the intensity of recent marine heatwaves, but their duration and global reach.
“These Degree Heating Weeks metrics — they show us just how long reefs are being exposed to stress,” he said. “In the past, if waters cooled quickly enough, some corals bounced back. Now, temperatures stay high for so long that many don’t get the chance. Entire ecosystems are blinking out.”
According to the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), which issued the report confirming the ongoing bleaching event, the main driver is climate change-induced ocean warming. Last year was the hottest on record, with global sea surface temperatures exceeding 21°C for the first time. In some regions, water temperatures have surged by up to 5°C — a critical threshold for coral survival.
Bleaching occurs when corals expel the symbiotic algae that give them colour and nutrients. If normal conditions return swiftly, the coral can recover. If not, they starve and die.
“It’s not just about losing colour,” said Dr. Venn. “It’s about losing life — the entire ecological architecture that depends on coral reefs: the fish, the food systems, the economies, the cultural ties.”
Coral reefs underpin marine biodiversity, supporting a third of all known ocean species and benefitting more than a billion people through food, coastal protection, and jobs. Their estimated global value exceeds $10 trillion — yet their coverage has halved since the 1950s. If nothing changes, the report warns, climate-driven reef loss could cost the global economy $500 billion annually by 2100.
The ICRI report lays out a roadmap for avoiding that future. It outlines eight key policy asks and calls for a sevenfold increase in funding for reef protection. At the top of the list: drastically cutting global emissions and keeping warming as close to 1.5°C as possible. Current climate plans, however, put the world on a path toward 2.7°C — a scenario that would wipe out nearly all reef-building corals.
Photo credit: Qui Nguyen, Unsplash
“We’re past the point where local efforts alone can save reefs,” said Dr. Venn. “They’re still vital — pollution control, sustainable tourism, coral restoration — but without rapid emissions cuts, they can’t keep up. The system collapses.”
He stressed that coral reefs have been overlooked in broader climate conversations, despite acting as “canaries in the coal mine” for planetary health. “What’s happening to reefs today is climate change in real time. This isn’t a future scenario. It’s now.”
Still, Monaco is offering hope through research and innovation. At the Scientific Centre, Dr. Venn’s team is studying how corals respond to temperature stress, with an eye on identifying species with greater thermal tolerance. Their work supports applied projects like the Coral Conservatory, where endangered species are sheltered in controlled environments, and restoration trials exploring whether resilient corals can be transplanted back into natural reefs.
“It’s bittersweet,” he admitted. “We’re essentially creating a coral archive in aquariums. But if this gives us a chance to replant reefs with thermally tolerant species in the future, then it’s worth every effort.”
As international scientists and climate envoys echo calls for policy change, from enforcing the “polluter pays” principle to embedding reef conservation into global climate frameworks, the urgency is universal.
“We can still turn this around,” said Dr. Venn. “But we need political will, international cooperation, and public support. Every degree of warming we avoid, every emission we cut, gives coral reefs — and the people who depend on them — a better chance at survival.”
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Photo credit: The Ocean Agency / XL Catlin Seaview Survey / Richard Vevers.
‘Clean up the south’ returns: thousands to unite in massive waste-collection effort
With just days remaining before the much-anticipated third edition ‘Clean Up the South’ environmental initiative, communities across the Alpes-Maritimes are making final preparations for this regional event. Set to take place on 26th April, this annual campaign unites municipalities, associations, and citizens in a collective effort to address waste pollution.
Equipped with a garbage bag and appropriate equipment, the goal is simple: collect as much waste as possible!
Last year’s event delivered impressive results, with over 85 tonnes of waste collected from more than 300 collection points throughout the south.
“Each year, the municipalities of the south region as well as numerous associations and schools contribute to the success of the major cleanup day ‘Clean Up the South’,” says Renaud Muselier, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region and Delegate President of Regions of France. “With each edition, several tonnes of waste are sorted, thanks to the mobilisation of thousands of volunteers. This collective momentum is dedicated to preserving our environment and our living conditions. Congratulations and thank you to the many people who make this event a success.”
‘Clean Up the South’ forms a component of the region’s ‘Zero plastic waste in storage by 2030’ programme—which has already tripled the amount of plastic collected between 2017 and 2024.
The approach also includes several strategic initiatives. A ‘Zero Plastic Waste’ charter has gathered 356 signatories as of 2024, including 128 local authorities, 110 companies, and 107 partner organisations, as well as 11 schools.
The ‘ReMed Zero Plastic’ network, managed by the MerTerre association, has orchestrated 1,851 collection operations since 2019, engaging 67,625 participant and successfully removing 354 tonnes of waste.
The ‘Together for a Zero Plastic Waste Nature’ funding initiative has supported 72 organisations with nearly €3.5 million between 2017 and 2024, while the Bulk and Deposit project has directed over €1 million toward 18 winning initiatives since its launch in 2023.
Participation opportunities
The campaign encourages simple practices such as carrying reusable shopping bags, proper waste sorting, and embracing second-hand consumption through swapping, donating, or reselling items.
For residents and visitors wishing to participate in the 26th April event, registration remains open through the initiative’s official website. Collection points will provide all necessary equipment for the cleanup.
Clean up hours vary depending on the collection point. Collection points and registration forms can be found in the ‘Clean Up the South’ official website: https://nettoyons.maregionsud.fr
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World Yachting Summit Concludes in Monaco with Vision for Yachting’s Future
The inaugural World Yachting Summit (WYS) has successfully concluded in Monaco after three days of industry dialogue under Monaco’s ‘Capital of Advanced Yachting’ banner. The event brought together key stakeholders from 20 nationalities to address the sector’s future challenges.
Inspired by global gatherings such as COP and Davos, the summit featured 19 panel sessions across two tracks: Business Perspectives & Tourism Development and creating a Practical Roadmap to Net Zero. These were complemented by eight Inspiration Talks and expert keynotes, providing valuable insights.
Jean-Claude Biver, renowned horology leader known for his leadership at Blancpain and Hublot, delivered the first inspiration talk, highlighting that innovation comes from being ‘’first, unique, and different’’. He stressed the importance of staying connected to the future, listening to younger generations, and recognising that making mistakes allows for crucial learning.
Reinventing yachting
Given growing criticism regarding its perceived lack of alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, industry leaders explored a reimagined SMART approach to yachting’s future:
Sustainable: “Sustainability is no longer an option’’ stated Olivier Wenden, Vice-President and CEO of the Prince Albert II Foundation, while Energy Observer’s Founder & Captain Victorien Erussard showcased his zero-emission vessel.
Modern: The industry must embrace transparency and develop destinations with regulations relevant to new generations.
Attractive: Shifting from excessive luxury displays to purpose was identified as crucial for attracting future yacht owners.
Resourceful: Leaders underlined yachting’s economic impact and the importance of continuous crew training.
Transformative: Experts highlighted cultivating yachting culture through youth exposure to sailing.
The summit concluded with ‘’cautious optimism’’, acknowledging the sector’s resilience while recognising challenges from geopolitical instability and changing demographics. Tomorrow’s yacht owners were characterised as more sustainability-focused and experience-driven.
Bernard d’Alessandri, Secretary General of Yacht Club de Monaco, offered a powerful reminder: ‘’When we are at sea, we are guests in a world that is not our own.’’
The summit was held from April 15thto 17th at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort.
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Photo source: WYS
MonacoUSA to host Monte Carlo Television Festival organisers at glamorous networking night
An evening of star-studded flair awaits as MonacoUSA invites locals and internationals to mingle with the team behind the Monte Carlo Television Festival at a special red carpet networking event at Marius Monaco.
On Wednesday 30th April, from 6pm to 8pm, MonacoUSA will roll out the red carpet for a night of glamour, entertainment, and exciting announcements as it welcomes the organisers of the Monte Carlo Television Festival to the stylish Marius Monaco venue. The team will be unveiling highlights of the 2025 programme during an evening designed to bring together Monaco’s vibrant expat and local community.
Guests can expect an electric atmosphere complete with red carpet interviews and paparazzi flashes, as well as interactive fun including a quiz and tombola offering the chance to win free tickets to this year’s Monte Carlo Television Festival.
In true MonacoUSA style, attendees are encouraged to dress the part, with suggestions ranging from full red carpet elegance to playful tributes to favourite TV characters. The event promises a lively blend of people and cultures, underscored by upbeat DJ sets and Happy Hour drinks from the cash bar.
Admission is free and open to all nationalities, with the festivities promising a memorable prelude to one of Monaco’s most celebrated cultural events.
Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
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