Monaco’s going green this June

The Green Shift Festival – 05/07June
Following the success of last year’s edition, the 2nd Green Shift Festival took place at Larvotto promenade last week.
The event aims to promote greater awareness and encourage blue sky thinking about green issues, with activities and discussions led by inspiring people. Over the course of three days and evenings filled with positivity and hope, the Festival focused on three unifying themes:
- (Re)connecting with the living world
- Imaginaires de la mer
- Ecology and pop culture
The packed programme included everything from yoga and meditation to meetings with school pupils, performances by artists, expressive workshops, round tables, and more, with speakers and contributors chosen specially for their expertise and original ideas, brought together in the unique surroundings of Monaco’s popular seaside complex.

Environmental Photography Prize – Exhibition 5 June/30 July
On Tuesday 4 June, while the Green Shift Festival was going on in Larvotto, the winners of the 2024 Environmental Photography Prize were announced by the Albert II Foundation, with the overall winner and several members of the judging panel present.
The Environmental Photographer Prize went to Aaron Gekoski for his picture “See no evil”, illustrating the plight of orang-utans exploited by the tourism industry.

Monaco Zéro Mégot – April-October 2024
The Principality has long been committed to taking action against pollution caused by cigarette butts. Every year, City Hall teams up with the Tourist and Convention Authority and the Principality’s water company SMA to raise awareness about the problem among residents and visitors, with a campaign dubbed “Monaco Zéro Mégot” (“Cigarette Butt-Free Monaco”).
Pocket ashtrays are handed out in various locations around the Principality, and also made available at tourist offices and all sites open to the public.
In addition, 42 floating “sea bins” have been placed in the waters of Port Hercule, to help clean up the local marine environment.

World Environment Day – 5 June
The Principality was behind a series of initiatives designed to promote greater public awareness about the need to protect our marine and terrestrial environments, as part of World Environment Day on 5 June.
The promenade at Larvotto was the nerve centre for the day of action. It kicked off with litter picking, with two teams working side by side, one one land and the other at sea. At one point, there was a discussion about the different types of waste collected. The afternoon was given over to a variety of activities and entertainments, including escape games, a “waste mural”, and a version of the traditional “game of the goose” for the youngsters, giving visitors the chance to test their grey cells in a good cause!

APIdays – 13, 14 & 15 June
Every year since 2011, the Principality has taken part in the APIdays initiative aimed at protecting “Bees, sentinels of the environment”.
Numerous events and activities take place over the course of a weekend, dedicated to raising awareness about the insects and the crucial role they play in keeping our planet healthy. There are craft workshops, presentations about the benefits of nectar-producing plants, mini-games, quizzes, and more.

Over the years, bee hives have sprung up in large numbers all over Monaco.

The CSR unit at the Fresque du Tourisme – 20 June
On 20 June, Estelle Antognelli, head of the CSR unit at the Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority, will be in the Paris region to take part in the “Tourism Fresk” workshop.
The activity is directly inspired by the Climate Fresk, and aims to help tourism industry professionals understand the systemics of their sector and think about how to transform it in the future.

The CSR unit at “From Seychelles to Monaco” - 29 Jun
At the end of June, the CSR unit will be taking an active role in “From Seychelles to Monaco”, an event designed to celebrate the island nation world famous for its picture-postcard landscapes, while raising awareness about the environmental challenges it faces. Estelle Antognelli and Adnan Ghezal will be leading a workshop aimed at engaging with participants on the issue of greenhouse gases.

Monaco Energy Boat Challenge – 1/6 July
The future of yachting is being shaped today, and the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge aims to play a big part in that process.
Created a decade ago by the Yacht Club de Monaco, the event addresses the green transition by bringing together industry leaders and engineering students to design alternative propulsion systems.
In addition to a week of races, other highlights of the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge include tech talks about innovative open-source projects, a sea lab showcasing ground-breaking ideas, and round tables to debate the use of hydrogen.