Prince’s Government participates in Convergences World Forum

Aux côtés de Gilles Tonelli : David Katz, Fondateur et DG de The Plastic Bank et Alice Frangulian, Secrétaire Général du réseau français pour le développement durable (REFEDD) ©DCI

Gilles Tonelli, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, spoke at the closing ceremony of the Convergences World Forum on 7 September 2016. This year’s Forum – the ninth edition – was held from 5 to 7 September at the Palais Brongniart in Paris under the theme “Managing the transition towards sustainable cities and territories”.

The Prince’s Government, through the Department of International Cooperation, has been a partner of the Convergences World Forum for the past four years. The Forum provides a platform for high-level meetings and discussions on the “Zero Exclusion, Zero Carbon, Zero Poverty” objective. Gilles Tonelli gave a speech at the Forum’s closing ceremony, during the “Zero Carbon” session. The Minister presented Monaco’s proactive sustainable development policy, recalling that the Principality had signed the Paris Agreement on 22 April and had committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

He also highlighted H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince’s commitment to promoting sustainable development, with a particular focus on preserving the oceans and securing marine protected areas. Finally, Gilles Tonelli noted that as part of its international development aid policy, Monaco is a supportive state which seeks to help populations made vulnerable by poverty, conflict or the impact of climate change.

Launched in 2008, the Forum promotes the Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) and the fight against poverty, exclusion and climate change in developing and developed countries alike. It brings together more than 7,000 participants each year.