Conference & Meetings World Issue 119 | Page 29

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Monaco

Championing energy transition

The Principality of Monaco has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 55 % by 2030 , compared with 1990 levels .

To achieve this target and set Monaco on a course to carbon neutrality by 2050 , the national action plan focuses primarily on the three sectors responsible for the highest greenhouse gas emissions : road transport , waste treatment and energy consumption .
Electro-Mobility – Green transport One of Monaco ’ s big advantages is its small size and its walkability to most venues , hotels , and places of interest . There is also access to green transport from public buses powered by Diester , electric bikes managed by Monabike , a 100 % electric car-sharing service by Mobee , and a solar-powered water bus that connects Monaco-Ville to Monte-Carlo district .
Eco-friendly vehicles currently account for more than 11 % of
registered vehicles in the Principality . The Government is continuing to expand the network of electric charging points , Monaco On , which remains free to use and provided nearly 120,000 charges in 2021 .
Green mobility is increasingly incorporated into events programmes with groups visiting the destination on electric bikes , e-solex or electric Mini Mokes .
Solar energy : photovoltaic panels The Principality has access to plenty of solar resources , experiencing an average of 2,917 hours of useful sunshine every year . To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 , Monaco has decided to increase the share of renewable energy , with a particular focus on the use of solar power .
More than 8,000sqm of photovoltaic panels have been installed on roofs of the Principality .
In September 2019 , the Grimaldi Forum became Monaco ’ s largest solar power plant , with 2,500sqm of photovoltaic panels , making the
congress centre self-sufficient and allowing it to supply neighbouring buildings .
It has overtaken the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort , which had previously covered its roof with 789 photovoltaic panels , enough to supply 30 households for a year .
Today , renewable energy accounts for 24 % of the energy consumed in Monaco .
Monaco : A pioneer in seawater heat pumps Monaco is one of the first countries to have developed the use of this type of energy along its coastline . The Principality installed its first seawater heat pump in 1963 at the Rainier III Outdoor Swimming Stadium to heat the water for the pool . The country now has more than 80 pumps .
Some of the buildings in Monaco which are heated or cooled using seawater heat pumps include the Fairmont Monte Carlo , the Oceanographic Museum , and the Monte-Carlo SBM buildings .
The ban of plastic Monaco has been actively working to reduce its plastic waste since 2016 , with an aim to achieve zero single-use plastic waste by 2030 .
Single-use bags , straws and drink stirrers , cotton buds , disposable glasses , cutlery and plates are all now banned in Monaco .
In Partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation , the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco founded the Monaco Blue Initiative in 2010 which became Monaco Ocean Week . A number of great initiatives have emerged from this event like the Beyond Plastic Med ( BeMed ) to combat marine pollution and plastic in the Mediterranean .
For further information , visit www . cvb . visitmonaco . com / en Or contact Rebecca Petit-Jean 7 Upper Grosvenor Street London W1K 2LX + 44 ( 0 ) 20 7318 1093 rpetitjean @ gouv . mc
Image credit : @ BVergely
ISSUE 119 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 29