EXCLUSIVE
HM: What qualities did she pass on to
you? When making an important deci-
sion as a Head of State, do you sometimes
wonder what the Princess would have
done on such an occasion?
Prince Albert: Yes I do. I also think of my fa-
ther and wonder what he would have done
in respect to certain delicate matters. As to
my mother, most importantly she passed on
the necessity of not just listening to people
with my mind, but with my heart as well.
Trying to understand the context, always
seeing both sides of things... In a compli-
cated situation, making an effort to listen to
both parties.
HM: Do you use her methods, if one can
speak of a method, in educating your
own children?
Prince Albert: Of course! She has sur-
rounded us with so much affection! I am
trying to give as much time as possible to
my children, despite my constraints and ob-
ligations. I believe that if you surround your
children with love, it will help them grow in
the most harmonious way.
HM: Sorry to be moving to quite a differ-
ent subject... A very alarming report on
our planet has just been released. You
are a very committed supporter of the
preservation of our seas and oceans. Do
you have any new projects in this field?
Prince Albert: We were very pleased to host
the 51st meeting of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change in Monaco. The
Principality, my foundation and other coun-
tries that have supported us had specifically
requested this report establishing a con-
nection between the oceans and climate
change. It was highly anticipated and helped
in influencing public opinion.
HM: There are still people who deny the
obvious...
Prince Albert: For me it is incomprehensi-
ble. 98 % of scientists cannot be wrong! Why
would the scientific community hide things
from us or falsify the results? We have to lis-
ten to the researchers and try to mitigate the
effects of climate change as much as pos-
sible. We are already getting wake-up calls
and it is only going to get worse. So we have
to change our ways.
HM: Is the Principality taking any meas-
ures in this field?
Prince Albert: We have been taking action for
Grace Kelly on the deck of the family yacht Deo
Juvante II, 1956
50 / Hello Monaco Winter 2019–2020
www.hellomonaco.com
I believe that if you surround your children
with love, it will help them grow in the most
harmonious way.
Princess Grace of Monaco in the Court of Honour of
the Prince's Palace, 1962
We have to listen to
the researchers and
try to mitigate the
effects of climate
change as much
as possible.
a very long time. We have quite ambitious tar-
gets for reducing greenhouse emissions. We
are aiming at a 50 % reduction by 2030 and
hoping to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
We are on the right track, these emissions
have already been reduced by about 20 %...
HM: You set an example... But some peo-
ple would say that it is easier to do in a
small state...
Prince Albert: All the big cities have the
same problems. It's the scale that is dif-
ferent. If we can do it, it can be done else-
where.
HM: Speaking along these lines, you have
tried banning the consumption and over-
fishing of bluefin tuna in the Principal-
ity...
Prince Albert: We wanted to put bluefin
tuna on the endangered species list. We
did not succeed in that, but our efforts had
their effect since we obtained a reduction
in fishing quotas. This allowed the blue-
fin tuna population in the Mediterranean
to rebound. It is now out of danger. We
have now authorized its consumption in
the Principality, although we must remain
cautious.
HM: Do you have other goals in this field?
Prince Albert: We are also working on in-
creasing protected marine areas in the Medi-
terranean; our goal is to cover 10 % of the
ocean surface. We are currently at 6 % and
some scientists are recommending aiming at
30 %. I am not sure that it can be achieved.
HM: I met you in Roure where forest pro-
tection was debated...
Prince Albert: Yes, of course. We are also
fighting against deforestation, it is part of
our environment.
HM: You must be revolted by what is hap-
pening with Amazonian forests...
Prince Albert: It's terrible... There need to
be so many actions taken. Several countries
are affected by intensive agriculture and
grain production to feed livestock. The de-
mand for beef is so high... But we can’t carry