Recognising the urgent need to address climate change and related environmental issues, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco decided to start his eponymous foundation in 2006 to tackle the problem at a global level. The foundation prioritises issues such as the conservation of biodiversity and water management, which also includes combating desertification. To generate increased awareness of its mission, the Singapore branch of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco was started in 2008 – one of the 10 representative countries globally – to galvanise the support of citizens, politicians, scientists and other stakeholders. To induct new members into the foundation, a reception was hosted by Jacky Deromedi, President of the foundation in Asia, and held at the charming bungalow of her son, Jean-Marc Deromedi, the Honorary Consul of Monaco. The theme was a touch of green, a subtle nod to the foundation’s Trees for Water programme that aims to plant teak and bamboo along the rivers of Madhya Pradesh in central India. The long-term benefits of the project include encouraging the production of humus which, in turn, will reduce surface run-off and soil erosion; the absorption of carbon dioxide and generation of oxygen; as well as creating 4,125 days of work for the local people.