17th Awards Ceremony for Planetary Health

On Thursday November 7th, in the presence of the Sovereign Prince, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation held its 17th annual Awards Ceremony for Planetary Health in the Salle Garnier at the Monte-Carlo Opera House. Since 2008, the Foundation's Awards have honoured personalities and organisations who have shown remarkable commitment to the preservation of the Planet.  

In his opening address, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco emphasised the importance of standing together, united in a shared determination to meet the world's environmental challenges. “That is the spirit of this Foundation. Since its creation in 2006, it has always been built upon the imperative of collective action. In times when the world is so divided, when it is so difficult to agree on basic values, this spirit is more than ever necessary,” continued the Sovereign, urging everyone to continue their efforts in the face of evolving threats by constantly adapting solutions. “We therefore need to keep innovating and identifying both the dangers and opportunities”, he stressed.   

It is a vision that the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation pursues continuously, complementing its philanthropic activities with impact investment to respond ever more effectively to current challenges by providing sustainable, long-term solutions.   

Finally, the Sovereign concluded by reminding us: “It is the responsibility of all of us: to leave our children a planet in better health, one that is not condemned to destruction or injustice; to be aware of the dangers, as well as our responsibility; to be both clear-eyed and determined”.    

The Sovereign Prince then welcomed the laureates on stage to present them with their distinctions. The awards went to:  

The Juma Institute, founded in October 2020 by indigenous leader Juma Xipaia in Brazil, with a mission to protect the environment, promote the rights of indigenous peoples and defend their cultural and territorial integrity, particularly in the Amazon Middle Xingu region. Following in the footsteps of Juma Xipaia, a leading figure in the fight against the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam, which caused major social and environmental impacts in the Amazon, the Institute is continuing its commitment to sustainable development, the autonomy of indigenous peoples and gender equality. It also fights against corruption and the exploitation of indigenous leaders by outside interests. Active in environmental conservation and the empowerment of indigenous women, the institute symbolises a platform for indigenous leadership and activism.  

Accepting the award, Juma Xipaia said she was honoured to receive this distinction on behalf of the Institute, declaring that “it takes courage to change the world that we need and that the future generation deserve. I thank you for our generation but also for the generation to come that deserve everything that their ancestors have left for them.”As she added later in the evening, “there is plenty of treaties and agreements about climate change and we have enough of that. What is lacking now is transforming this knowledge into action. I believe it is important for us to assume and to realise that it is our actions that are creating those changes and that it is through our actions that we can revert that. I come from a land very far away, but we happen to be in the same sphere, on the same planet, in the same boat.”    


Professor Lidia Morawska, a physicist by training, is internationally renowned for her research in the field of air quality, in particular suspended particles and their impact on health.  She is a Distinguished Professor at Queensland University of Technology in Australia, where she heads the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, in collaboration with the WHO. She is also Director of the THRIVE Centre, which focuses on building systems that prevent the transmission of airborne infections. Her work has global significance, particularly in the recognition of airborne transmission of disease, influencing the policies of the WHO and other health bodies, which has saved millions of lives.  

“I dedicated my life to the study of air and the impact of its quality on human health and the environment. The complexity and interdisciplinary nature of this field of science never ceases to fascinate me and inspire me to explore further.  (…) My dream is for my work to be one small pillar in keeping this planet habitable, with a clean and unpolluted atmosphere, and filling our indoor spaces with pollution-free air to help us thrive” said Prof Lidia Morawska.    


And finally, NatureMetrics, a world leader in the provision of nature data and information, founded in 2014 by Dr Kat Bruce, biodiversity scientist. NatureMetrics improves the ability of businesses, governments and NGOs to measure and track the state of nature on site-based assets. NatureMetrics deploys cutting-edge technology to generate large-scale biodiversity information using environmental DNA, Earth observation, advanced data science and Artificial Intelligence. Through its Nature Intelligence Platform, it is transforming the way companies report on their impact on nature, providing both a scalable solution to biodiversity monitoring and a solution to new nature reporting commitments.   

Receiving the award on behalf of NatureMetrics, Pippa Howard, Chief Nature Strategist, spoke of the fragility of ecosystems, stressing that: “Our planet is in crisis, and biodiversity is in catastrophic decline.  This impacts every one of us. Our economies, our livelihoods, our health and our ability to be resilient in the face of a changing climate. It was reinforced to me just how vital it is  – to the protection and restoration of our planet  – that we need to communicate more simply the state of nature to help us make better decisions, to encourage the flow of action, capacity and financial resources to deliver on the goal of protecting and restoring our ecosystems. We all need to rally to action.”    


The ceremony was also an opportunity to honour the younger generations and to reiterate the Foundation's commitment to supporting them, whether through the scholarship programme it has been running alongside the IPCC for many years, or through the Re.Generation initiative dedicated to young leaders under 35.   

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco presented the IPCC students with their diplomas in the presence of Dr Ladislaus Chang'a, Vice-Chairman of the IPCC, and Mrs Maria Elena Cuomo, President of the Cuomo Foundation, a partner in the programme alongside Moët Hennessy. The support given to these young researchers from developing countries is designed to enable them to continue their post-doctoral studies in the field of climate change and living soil.  

A short film was shown to the public tracing the experience shared by the first cohort of the Re.Generation young leaders during their year of support. Speaking opportunities at international conferences and events, leadership and communication training, masterclasses... all powerful moments, demonstrating their ability to convey inspiring and motivating messages, but also enabling them to forge strong links within the community, driven by shared values and a spirit of mutual support.  

Finally, a round-table discussion brought together the awardees for an inspiring conversation about the ways in which they communicate their messages, whether scientific data or calls for action. The key word ‘collaboration’ was emphasised by the three speakers, who advocated interdisciplinary research to tackle the complex problems facing our ecosystems, as well as taking into account our different sources of knowledge, whether derived from modern science, ancestral knowledge or our own reconnection with nature.  

The awards ceremony rounded off an important day for the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which had earlier in the day brought together its Board of Directors and its Branch Presidents for the traditional meetings of its governing bodies.

(Photos ©Philippe Fitte/FPA2)