PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO FOUNDATION HOSTED A FULL DAY OF IMPACTFUL EVENTS DURING CLIMATE WEEK NYC 2025

Monaco, 29 September 2025 – The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation hosted under the banner of the Living Room, a full day of high-level programming, during Climate Week NYC 2025. On Monday, 22 September 2025, at the Glasshouse Chelsea in New York, the Foundation convened leading voices from across sectors to engage in thoughtful dialogue around some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges we are facing today.

A SHARED SPACE FOR SOLUTIONS

The Living Room served as an open and collaborative platform to spotlight a selection of priority topics that reflect the Foundation’s core interests and commitments. Framed through three of its flagship initiatives – the Forest & Communities Initiative, the Polar Initiative, the Green Shift Initiative, and its private equity ReOcean Fund – discussions explored themes such as Indigenous communities and forest ecosystems, the role of scientific diplomacy to safeguard polar regions, innovations in sustainable fashion, and the future of the blue economy. The objective was to foster a collaborative environment where top-level partners could reflect on these issues and contribute to identifying meaningful paths forward.

"The challenges we face are global, and Climate Week NYC was an essential moment to drive forward solutions for planetary health," said Olivier Wenden, Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. “With the Living Room, we created a platform to amplify the voices of communities, promote solution-oriented dialogue, and strengthen partnerships – bridging disciplines to advance resilience for both people and the planet.”

THE LIVING ROOM

Forest Guardianship

Stories from the Frontlines of Climate Action

Set under the Foundation’s Forest & Communities Initiative, and co-hosted with the Woodwell Climate Research Center, Pawanka Fund, and Health in Harmony, this event explored how to better support Indigenous communities in protecting forest ecosystems. Bringing together Indigenous leaders and world-renowned experts, the session offered a space for sharing perspectives on the most urgent actions needed to safeguard forests, strengthen Indigenous-led conservation, and foster equitable partnerships – setting up the tone in the lead-up to COP30 in Belém.

Beyond the Ice

Collaborative Solutions for a Resilient Arctic

Led by the Polar Initiative, in partnership with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and the Woodwell Climate Research Center, the session convened community leaders, scientists, policy advisors, youth advocates, and funders for a participatory, solutions-driven exchange on building resilience in one of the world’s most rapidly warming regions. Designed to catalyse practical solutions and foster meaningful collaboration, this dialogue shifted the focus from what is happening in the Arctic to how we respond.

Sustainable Fashion: Riding the Tides of Change

A forward-thinking Experience to Shape the Future of Fashion

Within the framework of the Green Shift Initiative, in collaboration with Fashioning for Social Environmental Justice, the event offered a forward-looking exploration of the future of fashion, guiding participants from a deeper understanding of the industry’s impact on ecosystems and communities toward innovative solutions for transforming it into a sustainable and ethical model. The event welcomed both professionals and students from Pratt Institute and Berkeley College, whose perspectives and energy enriched the dialogue. This marked the first event organized by the initiative as a newly admitted member of the United Nations Fashion and Lifestyle Network, a global platform promoting sustainability, innovation, transparency, and collaboration across the fashion and lifestyle sectors.

Catalysing Ocean Innovation

For a Sustainable Blue Economy

Through the lens of the ReOcean Fund, this session drew special attention to the Foundation’s flagship initiative dedicated to advancing ocean innovation through blue finance. Bringing together families and institutional investors engaged in impact investing, the panel discussion explored how capital can be mobilised to drive systemic change in ocean stewardship and unlock the potential of the blue economy in key sectors such as sustainable shipping, plastic pollution reduction, offshore energy, and sustainable blue food.

Throughout the day, members of the Foundation’s ReGeneration Future Leaders Program – a dynamic community of young leaders and changemakers – took the stage to share their insights and expertise, bringing fresh perspectives to the discussions, underscoring the Foundation’s commitment to empowering the next generation of environmental stewards.

©Ian Hardy / FPA2