Our goal is to take action to protect the environment and promote sustainable development worldwide. It revolves around three themes: fighting the effects of climate change, preservation of biodiversity on land and sea, and access to water supplies. We focus our activities on three geographic zones as priorities: the Mediterranean, the polar regions, and the least developed countries, often the most vulnerable when facing the challenges which confront the planet.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is the only international non-profit organization presided by a head of state. Thanks to its renown and influence, we finance field projects and take major challenges to the highest political level, such as plastic pollution, over-fishing or protection of the oceans, either within multi-lateral bodies such as the UN or through bilateral encounters between heads of state. Furthermore, the Principality’s neutrality allows us to bring politicians, scientists and representatives of public authorities to the same table, as well as all the decision-makers in the worlds of associations and the private sector.

We have implemented the Beyond Plastic in the Mediterranean programme (BEMED) which fights plastic pollution in the Mediterranean. To do so, we formed a club of multi-nationals to work on the reduction of one-time use. The idea is to prevent pollution at the source, as plastic is extremely difficult to recover once thrown into the ocean. Another example, our MEDFUND supports the management of protected marine areas in the Mediterranean by financing conservation teams over the long term.

In the Principality, we support the underwater Larvotto reserve. Each year, we also organize the Green Shift Festival which aims to raise public awareness through discussions with philosophers, artists and scientists on positive new thinking about ecological transition. We also participate in the Pelagos sanctuary, a cross-border initiative with France and Italy to protect marine mammals in the region.

To mention just one: over-fishing. The oceans are threatened by over-exploitation of marine resources. Without sufficient protected areas, we run the risk of seeing the disappearance of certain species within a few decades. The recent signing of an agreement on protection of the high seas is an important step, though it remains to be ratified and implemented.

There are more and more initiatives and innovative solutions which give us reason to hope. Our task is to speed up these transitions with concrete actions and changed mentalities, especially by proving that ecology can rhyme with economic opportunities and innovation, rather than sacrifice.

Firstly, we plan to roll out the ReOcean Fund aiming to raise 100 million euros to pursue initiatives related to the blue economy. The goal is to target projects which create jobs while having a positive impact on the oceans. We are also working alongside France and Costa Rica to organize, with the Oceanographic Institute, the forum dedicated to the economy and Blue Finance at the United Nations Conference on the Ocean in Nice, in June 2025. Finally, we are pursuing our efforts to help change mentalities through our awareness and education programmes.

A committed sovereign

Prince Albert II of Monaco plays a predominant role within his Foundation. His commitment has notably allowed for the Mediterranean red tuna to be saved, a species which was close to extinction 20 years ago.