Dubai: Monaco’s Prince Albert II was awarded a $500,000 (Dh1.83 million) prize at the sixth cycle of the Zayed International Prize for the Environment Award on Wednesday.
The award was presented by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during the award ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai.
Prince Albert was given the overall Global Leadership in Environment and Sustainable Development Award and was honoured for the environmental work carried out by his foundation. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has supported more than 127 sustainable and ethical projects focusing on climate in locations as diverse as the Mediterranean Basin, Kenya, Mali, Indonesia and Brazil.
It has also supported projects related to developing renewable energies, combating the loss of biodiversity, improving universal access to clean water, and fighting desertification.
“A low-carbon economy is in reach and we will succeed but time is running out,” said Prince Albert during the award ceremony.
Prince Albert, a renowned conservationist and advocate for the earth’s marine and polar environments, founded the Foundation in 2006 to carry out environmental work not only in Monaco but also in other parts of the world.
The award ceremony was also attended by Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, UAE Minister of Environment and Water, and Mohammad Bin Fahd, Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Zayed Prize.
The Zayed Prize was established in 1999 by Shaikh Mohammad to acknowledge the environmental commitment of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It is the most prestigious and valuable international environmental award worldwide, worth $1 million (Dh3.67 million).
Other categories in the award include scientific and/ or technological achievement in environment, and environmental action leading to positive change.
