With the 2023 edition of Monaco Yacht Show less than one week away, we are thrilled to be collaborating as strategic partners for the second year in a row. Our joint mission to support the development of environmental initiatives in the yachting sector remains steadfast, reflected through the many exciting programmes we will be showcasing during the event.
A handpicked lineup of exhibitors with sustainable solutions that have passed our rigorous vetting process will be highlighted at the Sustainability Hub. Keep an eye out for solutions with our verification stamp – this signifies that they have undergone a stringent third-party Life Cycle Assessment conducted by an independent research institute to prove their superior performance and reduction of environmental impact compared to the business as usual.
You can find a member of our team there from 27 -30 September, 10:00 – 12:00 & 15:00 – 17:00 each day throughout the show.
Environmental Sustainability in Yachting Conference
For the second year, a press conference will be taking place to share the industry’s commitment to research and develop sustainable solutions in yachting. Alongside Gaëlle Tallarida, Derek Munro and Massimo Perotti, our Executive Director Robert van Tol will be sharing facts to highlight the carbon footprint of yachting in comparison to other industries and sustainable approaches in yachting.
The conference will occur on Wednesday, 27 September, 10:00 – 12:30, Conference Room (Virage Louis Chiron).
Launch of the Designers’ Protocol
The protocol, developed by Dickie Bannenberg of Bannenberg & Rowell Design together with our Sustainable Yacht Design Taskforce, will offer a standardized document guiding sustainability principles for every new project. A roundtable discussion will take place together with Francesca Webster, Espen Oeino, Phillippe Briand, and our Executive Director Robert van Tol.
Don’t miss out on the launch, taking place on Thursday, 28 September, 15:00 – 15:30, Conference Room (Virage Louis Chiron).
Sustainable Yachting Future: The role of Water Revolution
An in-depth update of our activities and developments will be shared to wrap up all initiatives announced throughout the week. Among these is the Environmental Crew Guidelines, initiated by MB92 to foster awareness across all onboard departments within day-to-day operations. During the show, we will be liaising with yacht management companies and crew in order to gain support and commitment leading up to the launch of the guidelines next month.
Join us for the presentation on Thursday, 28 September, 17:00 – 17:30, Conference Room (Virage Louis Chiron).
We look forward to seeing you at the show next week. Do not hesitate to reach out for any questions or comments.
Within the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, 10 environmental indicators are used to evaluate the impact of superyachts, beginning with those related to climate change.
These indicators measure the effect on the climate, specifically the Greenhouse effect, from two different perspectives: one considers the emission of greenhouse gases such as methane, CO2, and nitrous oxide, while the other examines chemical compounds relevant for Ozone layer depletion.
Global Warming Potential The Earth receives energy from the sun through solar radiation, with about half of this energy being absorbed by the earth’s surface. The other half is reflected back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation or heat. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap this radiation in the atmosphere, thereby heating the Earth. Consequently, the more GHGs that are present in the atmosphere, the warmer the Earth’s temperature becomes. This process is known as the greenhouse effect.
In order to make meaningful comparisons between GHGs, scientists have adopted CO2 as the benchmark for measuring their heat-trapping abilities. CO2 is a clear, odourless gas produced during carbon combustion and in the respiration of living organisms. The heat-trapping potential of a gas, measured against CO2 over a fixed period, is known as Global Warming Potential (GWP). CO2 is used as a benchmark to measure the GWP of substances, which is expressed in kg of CO2eq.
Ultimately, GWP evaluates the potential impact of different gaseous emissions on climate change by calculating the radiative force over a 100-year time horizon.
Ozone Depletion Potential In the stratosphere, an ozone-rich layer called the Ozone layer exists. The formation of the ozone hole is directly linked to the stratosphere’s temperature. Once temperatures drop below -78°C, polar stratospheric clouds tend to form, exacerbating ozone depletion over both of the Earth’s hemispheres.
The Ozone layer acts like sunscreen for all living organisms, shielding the Earth’s surface from most of the sun’s UV light. Its depletion could cause serious damage for humans, animals, plants and materials. Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) calculates these destructive effectives over a time horizon of 100 years.
Learn more Get in touch with us at info@waterrevolutionfoundation.org to find out more about the scientific methodology used within our programmes and how you can get involved. Stay tuned to hear about the remaining indicators!
Meet the initiator & vice-chair of Water Revolution Foundation, Dr. Vienna Eleuteri!
Vienna is a renowned and passionate sustainability scientist with a long track record of research and work with governments and local communities to support regenerative development. Aware of the urgency of bridging the gap between what we know and what we do as urgently as possible, she has pioneered sustainability in industrial ecology in key sectors and was the first to bring these disciplines to the superyachting industry.
After her Waterevolution model was recognised as a Blue Solution by UNEP and UNESCO, she initiated the Water Revolution Foundation and today serves on the board as vice-president contributing pro-bono to the development of its programmes.
“True leadership is imperative in driving our development towards enhancing ocean protection. As Sylvia Earle wisely said, ‘there’s no green without blue,’ and this statement extends beyond environmental significance to include money and economy. We must prioritise ocean protection as the fundamental essence of our business proposition. Superyachting encompasses a remarkable community of passionate and talented individuals who hold a strategic position to comprehend this importance and spearhead change. The Water Revolution Foundation stands ready to support our industry throughout this captivating and exhilarating journey!”
Learn more about Vienna’s vision for Water Revolution here.
We are proud to announce that Water Revolution Foundation has been recognised as an “Ocean Titan.” The Ocean Titans is a docu-series showcasing ocean initiatives within the business community by the World Ocean Council, a cross-sectoral ocean industry leadership alliance committed to “Corporate Ocean Responsibility.”
Given that the mission of our foundation is to drive sustainability in the superyacht industry through collaboration and innovation, leading the way towards neutralising its ecological footprint and preserving the world’s precious oceans, the episode sheds light on both the challenges and efforts that the yachting sector is undertaking in order to progress. By working together with scientists and utilising our strategic position, we can go above and beyond to become a more sustainable sector and lead by example towards a regenerative business model, shifting the perception of yachting to one that recognises the industry as true ocean stewards.
The film’s release comes at a poignant moment after the 2023 IMO Greenhouse Gas Strategy, aiming to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, was unanimously adopted by all member states on 7 July. It is clear more than ever that a united, regenerative approach is the way forward for the yachting industry to lead the way as true Ocean Titans.
Check out the film below & read the accompanying article published on Reuters here.
On this World Ocean Day, as we come together to honour and protect our precious marine ecosystems, it is paramount that the superyacht sector stand united in support of its biggest stakeholder and take collective action in the form of structural, industry-wide commitment.
To translate this commitment into tangible action and results, we are proud to announce Water Revolution Foundation’s newest programme: Ocean Assist. Ocean Assist will provide a return on superyachting’s landmark investment in ocean conservation, prioritising projects and adopting scientific tools that are urgently needed to safeguard the oceans. This will enable the sector to maximise financial (and non-financial) resources and embrace nature-based solutions. “It must be clear that yachting’s promising efforts to reduce its environmental footprint are only half of the challenges faced to future-proof the industry,” says Robert van Tol, Executive Director. “The other half is protecting the healthy ocean for which our sector directly relies on – we can no longer take its pristine conditions for granted to provide the lifestyle that superyachting sells. The Ocean Assist programme aims to structurally reinvest in the ocean through scientific guidance and support by an entire maritime sector, resulting in a community of true stewards of the sea.”
The Ocean Assist investment fund coming soon to the industry
Through the Ocean Assist Fund, appropriate criteria will be used by an independent scientific advisory board to select marine conservation and restoration projects to allocate funds from the yachting community. This fund is unique for being the only marine conservation initiative aimed to be structurally supported by an entire maritime industry, not a single organisation or small coalition of like-minded companies.
Ocean Assist will raise awareness and commitment across the yachting community, transform financial support for ocean conservation into a business proposition and investment for the well-being of the planet, and spearhead a new age of regenerative development to conserve and revive our marine ecosystems. “This programme represents a vital step towards a regenerative future for our oceans. By investing in blue carbon ecosystems, we can restore ocean health and create a legacy of environmental custodianship for generations to come,” shares our vice-chair and initiator, Dr. Vienna Eleuteri.
Ocean Strategy for Yachting
The significance of implementing such a programme was underscored last month in Hamburg, where top industry leaders and esteemed ocean scientists came together for a strategic discussion on the way forward for yachting and science to join forces – the outcome being a mandate from the industry pledging to prioritise sector-wide, coordinated reinvestment in the oceans, alongside mitigation. The strategic session took place alongside a workshop attended by leading ocean conservation scientists, who spent the week nominating 43 new regions for protection in the North-East Atlantic as part of the Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMA) programme. As Ocean Assist’s first initiative, IMMA’s North-East Atlantic project is entirely funded by the yachting community and a valuable demonstration of what future projects might entail.
A coordinated approach
It is due time that collective action is taken – the entire yachting community must gear up for structural commitment both in terms of support and adoption of results, moving beyond charity or philanthropy in favour of an industry-wide effort to secure our common future.
