“We are at a decisive turning point that requires transformative solutions to the interdependent challenges that threaten us”, this is one of the key passages of Prince Albert II of Monaco’s speech at the United Nations. The opportunity was given by General Debate of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly held in New York on the 22nd September 2022 in the presence of the recently-elected President, Csaba Kőrösi, former Serbian Ambassador and Director of Environmental Sustainability Department at the Office of the President of Hungary. The international panel has been an important step in the process of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 30, which the Principality of Monaco has also set as a priority, in view of new international conferences.
“We are at a decisive turning point that requires transformative solutions to the interdependent challenges that threaten us", H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco
The Sovereign Prince recalled then the close link between the Prince’s family and scientific exploration and innovation. “Exactly a hundred years ago Prince Albert I, my great-great-grandfather, disappeared. This humanist and visionary Sovereign strengthened advocacy for the fundamental role of science in advancing our societies, especially in the context of political decision-making”, He reaffirmed. On the basis of this long-lasting legacy, the Principality of Monaco has forged its policies towards the creation of shared actions to preserve Planet Earth, considered as essential to face the key moment we are going through. As reaffirmed by the Sovereign Prince, globalization and unbridled consumption compromised the ability of ecosystems to regenerate their resources. Research and innovation have proven to play a pivotal role during the pandemic emergency.
“Beyond our speeches, it is time to take action (…) seizing the last opportunity offered to us (human beings) to build a future for humanity", H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco
Prince Albert II of Monaco highlighted the key points that emerged at the most recent international summits. “Last June, at the Stockholm and Lisbon Conferences, we again saw the intrinsic link between the well-being of human civilization and respect for the planet, whose ocean is one of the fundamental components”. Therefore, the personal commitment in preserving oceans and marine ecosystems has passed down from generation to generation in the Famille Princière. So, “beyond our speeches, it is time to take action (…) seizing the last opportunity offered to us (human beings) to build a future for humanity - these urgent and critical efforts must be pursued in concert with policies aimed at drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030”. In fact, the frequency of extreme weather phenomena such as the recent floods in Pakistan caused by violent rains shows the urgency to implement preventive action to combat climate change whose devastating effects often affect disadvantaged populations.
The decarbonisation of local economies is again cited as the primary solution. As clearly stated in Monaco’s White Paper for the Energy Transition (March 2017), the Principality is willing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of 55% by 2030 in order to reach the carbon neutrality by 2050. The Sovereign Prince has evidenced that Monaco’s choice is in line with what recently asserted by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES): we already have all possible solutions to ensure “a sustainable and fairer future”.
All these issues, and many others, will be soon addressed as part of the Climate Change Conference 2022 – COP27 that will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) on the 13th and the 14th November 2022. This year’s panel will focus on reinforcing adaptation and resilience, through finance, new markets and possible solutions able to mitigate green-house emissions, to facilitate a fair transition and increase funding and state cooperation.
As a matter of fact, there are still many arguments to develop and debate, whereas Sustainability cannot interrupt human progress, innovation and creativity thus creating unemployment, social exclusion and recession. All aspects, social, economic and environmental must be taken into account to avoid undermining the efforts made so far, without falling into simplistic statements or unjustified alarmism. ***
To read the original text of the keynote by H.S,H. Prince Albert II of Monaco please visit: Palais Princier
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By Maurice Abbati