The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation advanced the ChangeNOW process in Paris.

One of the most net-positive events has just concluded in the French capital, gathering international Thought and Business Leaders, Voices of Change, Innovators and Policy Makers to build a tangible Future rooted on Sustainability. The ChangeNOW summit, held from the 30th March to the 1st April 2026 at the iconic Grand Palais in Paris, was a unique stage animated by conferences and workshops led by visionary leaders, besides murals, immersive experiences, startup pitches, green-tech and creative solutions to fight climate change and other key themes to safeguard our Planet.

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco took part at the event as a Change Maker, representing His Foundation, challenging participants to think differently at the end of the conference named "The Polar Oceans, Sentinels of a Changing Climate" on the 30th March : "Do not wait permission for consensus. Build it. Fund it. Scale it. The Planet is keeping score, and there is no extra time".

Major ecosystem upheavals are rapid, often driven by climate shifts, geological changes, or human activity. Thus, the Sovereign Prince recalled how these imbalances are critical indicators that natural resources are being overexploited. A comprehensive mobilisation involving the global community seems to be the key towards already existing and financed solutions, that are truly capable of making a difference through science and engineering.

Photo: H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco visiting ChangeNOW as a change maker, accompanied by Santiago Lefebvre and Rose-Mary Lucotte, founders of the international forum (Grand Palais, Paris, 30-31 mars et 1 avril 2026) © Michaël Alesi Palais Princier

H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco took the opportunity to pay an in-depth visit to the stands present at ChangeNOW, accompanied by Santiago Lefebvre and Rose-Mary Lucotte, founders of the international forum, exchanging ideas with some entrepreneurs operating in the energy, food and waste management fields. The practical approach is perfectly aligned with Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation (PA2F) which is being focusing on credible solutions to engage communities, scale up the market and generate impactful sustainability outcomes. All this requires moving beyond compliance reporting to creating a measurable, positive difference for stakeholders, civil society, and the Planet, itself, while integrating Sustainable targets into the core business strategy.

Photo: Romain Ciarlet, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation at ChangeNOW (Grand Palais, Paris, 30-31 mars et 1 avril 2026) © Michaël Alesi Palais Princier

In this context, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation launched a side event entitled "Leveraging Data for Nature and Climate Action: From Insight to Impact", showcasing how the global effort to combat climate change and halt biodiversity loss is often hindered not by a lack of will, but by a lack of clarity and measurable environmental data.

The meeting opened by Romain Ciarlet, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Foundation, gathered a panel of speakers, notably: Jason Turner from Entanglement Inc., Simona Chiavassa, from ReOcean Fund, Caitlin Brown from NatureMetrics, and Nicolas Sdez from PRONOE. Reporting, Legal Compliance and Data Management across multiple sustainability frameworks is decisive to attract investments and reorienting business models.

Photo: Roundtable Sessions at ChangeNOW (Grand Palais, Paris, 30-31 mars et 1 avril 2026) © Michaël Alesi Palais Princier

Besides that, some ReGeneration Initiative by PA2F leaders have given their contribution to the impactful storytelling within the three-day event.

On the 31st March, Erika Xananine Calvillo Ramirez, Indigenous Ngiwa descendant and founder of the Jna Tsjo Collective advocated for reconnecting with nature through education by defending bio-cultural heritage and promoting community-led climate action. On the same day, Ailars David, Marine Scientist and Founder of Sustainable Ocean Alliance Tanzania, hoped to involve more and more coastal communities, youth, and indigenous knowledge in ocean governance.

On the 1st April, Björn Sandström, top athlete and climate consultant, focused on the role played by Sport as a driver of societal transformation.

Célia Roussin, from GRAP Paris and Founder of Pépite Raisin, presented an innovative food product based on up-cycled organic grape seeds, combining business, R&D, health and cosmetic benefits , together with a more sustainable management of vineyards and and a new source of income for winegrowers.

Yara Yousry, Architect and Sustainability Entrepreneur, presented Texula, an innovative project which transforms banana tree waste into biodegradable textile fibres, helping to reduce microplastic pollution while creating economic opportunities for local communities. ***

✒️ Maurice Abbati

• Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.

• Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy