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Transition Forum concludes with optimism and focus on solutions
By Cassandra Tanti - July 11, 2019
Repeated calls to action emerged as the overwhelming part of proceedings at the second edition of the 2019 Transition Forum in Monaco.
Frederic Genta at the 2019 edition of Transition Forum
Under the rubric of ‘Shifting to Sustainable Lifestyles’, the two-day gathering brought together about 300 entrepreneurs, climate innovators, corporate executives, fund managers, scientists and representatives of civil society. The debates at the Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel on 26th and 27th June focused on four main themes: Food, Mobility, Production and Consumption, and Housing.
“We are building a unique community of key stakeholders who are not just talking about a sustainable future but taking concrete action to make it a reality,” said Lionel Le Maux, Chairman, Aqua Asset Management and Co-Founder of Transition Forum. “Time is our enemy, but if we are able to implement the solutions that we have heard about over these two days, if we are able to align value and price, then we will be able to take back our destiny and time will again be on our side.”
Transition Forum Co-Founder Lionel Le Maux
Over 60 international speakers presented innovative solutions and tackled the challenges of the transition towards a low-carbon future, including Monaco’s Minister of Finance and Economy Jean Castellini, Michelin-Star Chef Pierre Gagnaire, Entrepreneur and Author of The Blue Economy Gunter Pauli, and Johan Eliasch, founder of Cool Earth.
Transition Forum Co-Founder Roberto Segre and Monaco Life Publisher Eric Brundage who moderated a panel during the event
“The TRANSITION forum held in Monaco is a perfect example of the need to consider the ecological transition as a whole, and I am happy to be able to count on the Principality of Monaco, a neighbour with whom we collaborate very effectively,” said Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of the Metropolis of Nice Cote d’Azur and Deputy Chairman of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, who delivered a keynote. “These recent exchanges allowed me to share the major principles of the metropolitan Territorial Climate Air and Energy Plan 2019-2025 and on the metropolitan environmental policy, developed with and for the inhabitants of the Metropolis which I am committed to accompanying on an eco-responsible path through ambitious measures and significant actions.
Mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi
Representatives of around two dozen start-ups presented ground-breaking projects that covered everything from the prevention of food waste to the recycling of microplastics from the world’s oceans.
Debates recognised the need for tough choices, but an overall sense of optimism came shining through. This optimism is based on the commitment of the actors present and their achievements.
Many participants of the 2018 Transition Forum, who came back to report on progress made over the past year, highlighted the important role that the exchanges and meetings initiated during last year’s conference had to play in their achievements.
Over the two days, speakers and participants showed that preserving the environment and the economy are compatible. “The California model shows that the world can improve the viability of the economy while reducing carbon emissions,” said Timothy Papandreou, founder of Emerging Transport Advisors.
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[caption id="attachment_22532" align="alignnone" width="924"] Photo: bentleymedia.com[/caption]
Sunseeker International, Britain’s biggest boat builder, has announced the appointment of Michael Straughan as Chief Operating Officer.
Michael joins Sunseeker from Bentley Motors Ltd, where he was Member of the Board for Manufacturing and brings with him a wealth of experience in premium luxury manufacture, Sunseeker said. Having lead the operations of some major production facilities both in the UK and abroad, Michael has provided key direction and substantial improvements for several major brands across multiple and complex product offerings and so will provide Sunseeker with further operational expertise and an uncompromising focus on quality.
Phil Popham, CEO of Sunseeker, said: “We are delighted to welcome Michael to the executive team. It is a testament to the strength of the Sunseeker business today that we are able to attract his calibre of professional with a proven track record of directing successful manufacturing operations within the premium luxury sector.
“Michael will provide us with some crucial operational expertise as we enter an exciting phase of growth and ensure we can increase our production capacity efficiently while maintaining and improving our exceptional product quality. I am really looking forward to working with him and the rest of the team to deliver some bold new product plans that will see us further strengthen Sunseeker’s position as one of the world’s leading yacht builders.”
Michael added: “Sunseeker is a fantastic brand with an incredible reputation around the world for exciting, high quality products and I am delighted to be joining them. The plans for the business will see this strengthen further still with significant investment planned across facilities and products, so this truly is an exciting time to be joining the business. I am very excited to be given the opportunity to be a part of the future growth of this iconic brand.”