Monaco & the Ocean exhibition at United Nations marking Prince Albert II accession anniversary

Committed to love and protect our oceans

On Thursday, 11 July 2019, Isabelle Picco, Monaco’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, officially unveiled a photo exhibition entitled Monaco and the Ocean, to mark the anniversary of H.S.H. Prince Albert II accession. The exhibition at the U.N., that brought together scientists, experts, NGO’s and other concerned citizens, marked the strong commitment of the Principality of Monaco to the protection of the marine ecosystem.

Accompanied by Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcès, President of the 73^rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, and Beatrix Kania, the UN Chief of Protocol, the Ambassador presented some 60 images showcasing the leadership of Prince Albert II and his Government on the issue of protecting and promoting the oceans, as well as on preventive measures in this area. A reception was organized after the exhibition, for the 300 guests present, notably Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Maguy Maccario-Doyle, Monaco’s Ambassador to the United States, and Gildo Pallanca Pastor, the country’s Consul General in New York.

Maguy Maccario Doyle, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, Isabelle Picco @DR

Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces and Isabelle Picco @DR

Juliette O’Connor, Alyson C. Sangiorgio, Princess Alexandra de Hannover, Isabelle Picco, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, Florian Botto and Cedric Braquetti@DR

The photos belonged to the Archives of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, the Monegasque Association for the Protection of Nature (AMPN), the Monaco Scientific Centre, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Ministry of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development, the Government Communication Department, Monaco Explorations, the Princess Charlene Foundation, OLSSI, Perles de Monaco, the ACCOBAMS Permanent Secretariat, the Nautical Society of Monaco and the Yacht Club de Monaco.

Photo exhibition at the UN @DR

View of the photo exhibition at the UN @DR

Photo exhibition Monaco and the Ocean at the UN @DR

Depicting everything from marine protected areas to sustainable urban development and scientific initiatives like Monaco Explorations, the photos raised guests’ awareness of the different reasons why we should look after the oceans and the various ways in which this can be done in order to implement Sustainable Development Goal 14.

A video message recorded by Prince Albert II, in support of the President of the General Assembly’s campaign to eliminate single-use plastics, was projected at the event. A ban on such plastics has been in place at the UN Headquarters in New York since June 6, 2019.