In the wings of EVER Monaco, something quietly remarkable has been happening. For twenty years, the Principality of Monaco has been inching its way into the vanguard of low-carbon futures. And at the 20th edition of the forum (15–16 October 2025) in One Monte-Carlo, Monaco’s sovereign, Prince Albert II, made it clear: this is not a resort for greenwashed photo-ops, but a laboratory of mobility and energy transition.
From glitz to grid-shift
It may seem counterintuitive: a city-state known for Formula 1, mega-yachts and finance declaring itself a lab for sustainable mobility. Yet Monaco has quietly built up a credible track-record. The forum’s own data reveal that hybrid and electric vehicles now account for about 20 % of cars on the Principality’s roads, a significant feat for a territory that spans just 2 km² and where private vehicles rarely exceed 30 km/h in many of its winding streets.
Meanwhile, the local operator Compagnie des Autobus de
Monaco’s Journey
What makes Monaco’s journey compelling isn’t its size; it’s that size works in its favour. Think of a compact urban zone where experiments can scale quickly, risk is lower, and visibility is high. It’s like a test-tube for tomorrow. At the same time, Monaco has high symbolic value: if a place so well known can chart a credible path to low-carbon mobility, then maybe others can too.
The forum organiser emphasises this shift: after two decades the focus moves from prototypes and exhibition vehicles to “practice and deployment”.
Innovation on display
The 2025 edition of EVER Monaco wasn’t just speeches and glossy brochures. The event spotlighted start-ups aggressively: a pitch competition with €20,000 in prizes, covering areas such as removable solar panels on railway tracks (Sun-Ways took first prize) and reconditioned batteries (Marny Energy) among others. This mix of policy, mobility infrastructure, and entrepreneurial zeal gives the Principality a kind of ‘living laboratory’ feel.
In parallel, the expansion of the hydrogen economy is gaining traction. The Monaco Hydrogen Alliance and its upcoming forum emphasise that hydrogen, land, sea, air, is central to the long game.
Challenges & The Broader Picture
Despite the progress, Monaco’s terrain offers cautionary tales for others. The unique city-state is not exactly replicable everywhere. The 20 % EV penetration figure is impressive, but the world’s almost one-third of emissions from transport remains a huge mountain.
But the Principality’s task is less about waiting for perfection, more about continuous movement. The forum’s theme: “20 Years of Sustainable Mobility and Energy Transition – Deployment: Current State and Future Outlook” shows the ambition is now on getting into motion not just theorising.
Putting Monaco into the wider global map: Europe’s electric-bus registrations alone rose 53 % in 2023, signalling that the shift is accelerating. Monaco may be small, but its commitment aligns with broader continental trends.
Moreover, Monaco’s Energy Transition White Paper commits the Principality to halving greenhouse-gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. So you have policy backbone, real transport change, and innovation platforms combining.
“Don’t Slow Down”
In a place where speed is often more about million-euro supercars than subtle policy pivots, the story of EVER Monaco and Monaco’s low-carbon ambition offers something different: quiet, credibly ambitious transition. As we step into an era where transport, energy and technology converge, this little city-state perched on the Mediterranean is punching above its weight.
Prince Albert’s message is simple: don’t slow down. The event’s 20-year milestone isn’t a moment to rest. It’s a launchpad. The real gold of Monte-Carlo in 2025 isn’t just the casino tables, but the launch of a low-carbon experiment whose true return may be measured in tonnes of CO₂-avoided, not solely record winnings on the table. Though in Monaco, both are possible.
