Prince Albert II spoke of the urgency of phasing out combustion engine vehicles during his visit to Ever Monaco on Wednesday, warning that recent progress should not lead to satisfaction or caution.
Speaking at the closing of the afternoon’s conference on future energy and vehicles at One Monte-Carlo, the Prince highlighted Monaco’s achievements while stressing the need for continued efforts.
The Prince noted that electric and hybrid vehicles now represent 20% of Monaco’s vehicle fleet, up from 2% a decade ago. “These figures demonstrate massive change, but it is still insufficient,” he said. “That’s why we must go even further and faster to drastically reduce the number of thermal vehicles.”
He also criticised moves by some states and regional organisations to delay the end of combustion engine production. “We must mobilise to make the case for maintaining, or even accelerating, the timetables,” he said. “We must make it clear that our collective future is at stake, because the transport sector accounts for around a third of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming.”
Twenty years of progress
Reflecting on Ever Monaco’s two-decade history, the Prince described how electric mobility has shifted from utopia to reality. “The story of clean mobility was a utopia carried by a few adventurous minds. It is now proven reality on every continent, with every manufacturer,” he said.
He pointed to Monaco’s early adoption of policies to encourage non-polluting mobility, including financial incentives, dedicated sporting events like the Riviera Electric Challenge, and expanded charging infrastructure in car parks and public spaces.
“We have taken several early and quite bold steps to encourage the development of non-polluting mobility, facilitate its expansion and of course support users,” the Prince said.
However, Prince Albert II highlighted that the mobility transition involves more than simply replacing old technology with new. “Like all major changes, the evolution of mobility does not simply substitute a new technology for an old one,” he said. “It triggers chain reactions that are opportunities to bring new solutions to light and in turn spark further innovation.”
He outlined three key parameters shaping mobility’s future: technical advances demonstrated at events like Ever Monaco, regulatory frameworks needed to pursue climate preservation, and changing lifestyles linked to digital solutions.
Following his speech, he toured the exhibition stands at One Monte-Carlo, speaking with representatives from participating companies and organisations.
Lastly, the Prince visited stands including Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles, Monaco Bus Company, SMEG, and start-ups such as Green One and Skwheel, amongst others. He spent time at each stand engaging with representatives about their sustainable mobility solutions.
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Main photo credit: Monaco Life