EVER Monaco closes with warning on decarbonisation pace

The EVER Monaco exhibition wrapped up on 15 October with a closing round table that cut through some of the usual optimism around green transition pledges. Representatives from SNCF, SMEG, the Société des Bains de Mer and the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles were blunt about the driving force behind their decarbonisation efforts, with one panellist summing up the mood: without regulatory pressure, the pace of change would be far slower.

Each organisation brought a different angle to the discussion. SNCF spoke to the logistics of decarbonising rail transport, while SMEG, the utility responsible for much of Monaco's energy and water distribution, addressed the practical challenge of greening the Principality's power supply. SBM, which operates the bulk of Monaco's hotels, casinos and restaurants, weighed in on reducing the carbon footprint of large-scale hospitality, and the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles offered a less obvious perspective from the world of motorsport, where emissions scrutiny is increasingly unavoidable.

For residents and businesses in Monaco, the discussion matters beyond the exhibition hall. SMEG's role in the city-state's energy transition touches every property owner and tenant, and SBM's choices ripple through the hospitality sector that underpins much of the local economy. The consistent message from the panel, that compliance requirements rather than voluntary ambition are what move these industries forward, is a useful reality check for anyone following Monaco's broader sustainability commitments.