5 takeaways from the energy transition conference in Monaco
It is within the Maison des Associations de Monaco that Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux, director of the Mission for the Energy Transition of the Prince’s Government, moderated a conference for the MWF Institute on October 8 on the Principality’s actions for promote sustainable development.
Remove plastic
Considered as the main source of CO2 emissions in the Principality, plastic is one of the most important issues to be dealt with in Monaco, but also in the world. According to the 2021 national inventory report of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 24% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the incineration of plastic waste. For Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux, the goal is therefore above all to find alternatives to plastic, to limit waste thereafter. According to her, the main difficulty in limiting plastic lies in both consumer pressure and regulatory pressure. A first avenue for reducing this source of particularly polluting waste: banning single-use plastic among consumers and manufacturers alike.
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Reduce and sort your waste
Beyond the plastic itself, sorting and reducing waste are major elements of the energy transition. Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux notably encourages Monegasques to visit the company’s premises Paprec, sorting center in Cannes, so that everyone can visualize how their waste ends up. Another problem has been sent: because of the operation of certain sorting channels, European governments have their unsorted waste in Asia for a long time … until countries invaded by this waste end up “stopping” this practice! Since then, the malfunctions of the sorting channels have still not been repaired, but Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux not only encourages people to continue sorting at home, but above all to limit the production of waste: ” The problem must be addressed at the source“, She assures.
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Repair rather than consume
One way, moreover, to reduce its production of waste: to promote the repair of damaged objects, instead of throwing them away and buying them back, when possible. But in the era of overconsumption, the shops that give a second life to our everyday objects are becoming scarce. At the same time, the waste reduction week will take place at the end of November and Monaco intends to participate by publishing a map of shops offering a repair service on the Rock. The call will soon be relayed and a “repairathon”, that is to say a day devoted to repairs, will be organized in partnership with the town hall.
Drive electric
Among the other concrete actions launched by the Principality: encouraging electric mobility on the Rock. Since 1994, the Prince’s Government has offered assistance with the purchase of 30% of the cost of an electric vehicle in Monaco. Cars, which are certainly more polluting at the present time in terms of construction, but which drastically limit greenhouse gas emissions for consumption in the long term. ” These questions will have to be faced and resolved” , admits Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux, mentioning in particular the batteries and the end of life of these electric vehicles. But there is no question of remaining in a carbon economy: the Prince’s Government has therefore wished to reassure consumers about this transition, by addressing the questions and the answers. on his website. And for those who cannot change their car immediately, the carpooling platform triggered in Monaco during the pandemic can also reduce its carbon impact.
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Carbon footprint calculator
To go even further in the energy transition process, the Principality offers individuals, companies and associations calculate the impact of their lifestyle on the environment. Secondly, by committing to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the Prince’s Government created the National Pact for the Transition Energetic. Since 2016, everyone can, individually or collectively, signatory of this online Pact, and is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions to fight against global warming. As Annabelle Jaeger-Seydoux reminds us: “ sustainable development is a challenge The planetary and complex. A collective response is needed: the demand is us.”
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