Prince Albert, Saving the Planet

What's that up in the sky? A French aristocrat? A wealthy businessman? The sovereign of a European microstate? No, it's Prince Albert - Savior of the Planet! Okay, all joking aside, our favorite Prince is once again united with his true love. Princess Charlene? No, his other true love (alright, last one, I promise) environmentalists! On Tuesday Prince Albert II was in Durban, South Africa where, in the presence of presidents, prime ministers and other assorted dignitaries he officially opened the "High Level Segment of the United Nations Climate Change Conference" aka COP17. For those of you not keeping up, "climate change" is what used to be known as "global warming" before everything started freezing and people started to wonder what was up with that. The Prince gave a speech about climate change and the impact it was having on the environment and kudos to him for being able to still say something new on this subject when he's been speaking on this exact topic for what seems like almost his entire life. But that's our Albie, saving the world from climate change one speech and awards ceremony at a time. God love him.

Yesterday he teamed up with Princess Charlene (who is no doubt enjoying this trip to her South African homeland) for the UNEP "One Billion Tree Campaign" (shouldn't that be "trees"?) or "Climate Action Networking Reception" because if there's one thing that is going to get us off of fossil fuels and stop Chinese air pollution, it's networking and receptions. I'm sorry, I really need to tone down the sarcasm but as long-time readers will know, I've just never been able to get on the whole environmentalism bandwagon. The way I see it, human beings are still a far greater danger to each other than we are to the planet. I tend to think the planet will be here long after we've managed to kill each other off completely. In any event, the Green crusader from Monte Carlo continues to forge ahead on his quest to save planet Earth and, at this particular event, the Sovereign Prince paid tribute to the Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maatai, alas no longer on this mortal coil, who founded Kenya's "Green Belt Movement". Surely, a man after the Prince's own heart. All joking aside though, anything that can be done to make the planet a cleaner, healthier place, I am all for and wish them the best in their ongoing efforts.

Back in New York and Being Honored

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco is currently attending "The Value of Sport as a Tool for Development" conference in New York as part of the Millennium Development Goals Summit at the United Nations General Headquarters. This is being held to coincide with the General Debate of the 65th UN General Assembly this week and will include a review as to the progress of anti-poverty campaigns adopted in 2000 and, if these goals are not being met, to discuss ways to speed up implementation. Prince Albert also recieved an award from the United Nations for his efforts to promote peace through sport due to his many years of involvement with the Olympic Games (both as an IOC member and an Olympian) as well as his patronage of other sports for charitable purposes. The Sovereign Prince is High Patron of “Peace and Sport, l’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport" and at the reception of his award was commended for his, “global leadership and passionate commitment as a champion of the cause of peace through sport”. More details on the award and the Prince's comments can be found here.

He has also participated in Climate Week NYºC 2010 (seen above) in which he stressed again the need for widespread adoption of electric cars and discussed the dangers of rising sea levels due to melting at the polar ice cap; something he has done considerable 'first-hand' research in. More information on that gathering and their goals for electric vehicles can be found here.

Monaco's Busy Monarch

HSH Prince Albert II has had an eventful last few days. On the 23rd he addressed the General Assembly of the UN, his remarks focusing on environmental concerns and the commitment of Monaco to the reform of the global financial system, the creation of a new “green economy” and humanitarian causes around the world, particularly those concerning women and children. He also pledged 0.7% of the GDP of his Principality to development in these areas. Which lends weight to his words considering that the Monegasque pay virtually no taxes and the national income is largely his own income. It is not quite the same as other world leaders promising money they have taxed from their people whether they like it or not. The Sovereign Prince went to his speech in a good mood as just prior to his remarks the Monegasque delegation was informed that Monaco was taken off the “gray list” of tax havens by the OECD just ahead of the Pittsburgh summit. However, the Sovereign Prince did not hand around long, jetting back to Monaco in time to open the 19th Monaco Yacht Show the very next day. The Monaco Yacht Show is famous across the Riviera as THE ultimate display of super-large luxury yachts. So, His Serene Highness has been busy as a bee, working hard for Monaco and the world. But think about the carbon footprint for all those trans-Atlantic flights!

Prince Albert Speaks on the Environment

Yesterday HSH Prince Albert II, in New York City for the UN General Assembly, addressed a news conference at UN headquarters on the environment and in particular the impact of climate change on the Arctic, an area he is very familiar with following in the footsteps of his predecessor and namesake on the Monegasque throne. For someone who is easily annoyed with the whole environmentalist movement I have to give the Sovereign Prince of Monaco a great deal of credit and would consider his words to hold far more weight than someone like former US VP Al Gore. That is because Prince Albert has taken the advice of the Chinese sage who said "go thyself". He has gone to the Arctic and the Antarctic and other areas to see the situation for himself and, unlike many others who seem eager only to profit from environmentalist fears, Albert II has actually put his money where his mouth is. The Chicago Field Museum recently made public that the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation had donated about $537,344 toward a 3-year project to establish new conservation landscapes in the Amazon region of Peru. You see what can be done without government regulations, forced taxation as compared to the philanthropic power of simple princely status? Quite a lot it seems.