Monaco Green

by Paige Donner

Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monaco.  Photo credit: Fairmont Monte Carlo.

Paige Donner wrote this post on Monaco. She is a travel writer for Fodor’s Travel Guides.  A journalist, filmmaker and consultant, she also writes for The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. For more, please also see Local Food And Wine blog.

When I think of Monaco, I think of Princes and Princesses, of fairytale weddings and of a sparkling, glamorous lifestyle lived out under the gentle Mediterranean sun. I think of blue sea and yellow sunshine. But mix blue and yellow together, and what do you get? Green!

Take Monaco’s Fairmont Hotel, for example. The Fairmont Monte Carlo has implemented a thorough eco-attitude for its individual guests as well as its conference attendees.

Aerial view of Monte Carlo. Photo credit: Fairmont Monte Carlo.

The hotel’s programs include Green Meet, their Green Meeting and Conference Planning service. Eco Meetoffers four main components: Eco-Cuisine, Eco-Service, Eco-Accommodation and Eco-Programming.

Actions for Eco-Programming can consist of informing delegates about environmental and heritage issues, or participating in the conservation of environmentally sensitive areas of species protection initiatives. It can also take the form of nature walks or taking part in environmentally oriented activities within the community.  An Eco-Cuisine practice is using regional recipes with local, sustainable or organic food and beverages.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is all about eco-responsibility, with its m.o. of “sensitizing without blaming.” One of its principle focuses is on encouraging all construction in Monaco to use sustainably forested wood for building. In other words, deforestation and its contribution to planetary carbon emissions is on the Foundation’s priority watch-list. The Foundation works closely with the Monaco Association of Sustainable Development (l’association Monaco Développement Durable) to message this to its residents and business owners.

Monaco even has its own sport electric vehicle manufacturer, Venturi. Perhaps one of these days – soon(?) – we’ll see a Venturi model racing in the Grand Prix?!

If you have a spare couple of hours, take the bus (1Euro) to St. Jean Cap Ferrat and get off in front of theVilla & Jardins Ephrussi de Rothschild. Touring the villa, you will enjoy one of the most idyllic garden walks and memorable views of the coast from this exquisite property.