Mirpuri Foundation Forum Tackles Climate by Air, Sea, and Story

With orcas, ocean plastics, and clean fuels on the agenda, the Foundation convened leaders from cockpit to coastline. A swirl of ocean currents, cricket cookies, and Orca intelligence converged at the 2024 Mirpuri Foundation Conservation Forum in Cascais. With a mix of scientists, filmmakers, financiers, and futurists, the event tackled the planet’s climate crisis from every angle—on land, in the air, and beneath the waves. The theme wasn’t just preservation; it was regeneration. Circularity. And storytelling as a tool for survival. Held alongside the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, this wasn’t your standard sustainability summit. From military-backed marine protections to insect-based farming startups, the panels served up unexpected takes on climate resilience. But it was a charismatic underwater cinematographer—Ricardo Nascimento—who stole the show with an emotionally charged storytelling session that turned Orcas into activists, and humans into the endangered species. The Lowdown Aviation industry leaders admit their 2% share in global emissions—but insist they’re “not sitting on their hands.” Ricardo Nascimento debuts his Orca documentary vision, linking behavioral shifts to Moroccan fishing routes. SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) is gaining ground—but it’s expensive and scaling is a major challenge. Finance players like Robert Korn are driving tech investment in cleaner flight routes, citing real emission gains. MARE-Madeira’s João Canning-Clode proves science doesn't need big budgets—his €50 bean jar experiment gained nearly 2,000 citations. Crickets might save us: Gonçalo J. Costa outlines how insects can power a circular food future. From Porsche to military patrols, public and private players are putting eco-infrastructure and biodiversity front and center. “We’re Not Sitting On Our Hands” — Aviation & Emissions SESSION: Bridging the Science and Policy Nexus for Conservation Speakers:  Carlos Duarte, Commander Telmo Dias, Grethel Aguilar, Gonçalo Santos The aviation industry accepted its 2% share of global emissions but stressed long-term commitments to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Carlos Duarte, Executive Director of CORDAP, opened by framing aviation as a necessary evil—with high mobility benefits and a strong commitment to sustainable transformation. Focused efforts on SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) were highlighted, with Safan Al Aryani revealing that his Dubai-based company is already converting used cooking oils into jet fuel. Europe leads in policy enforcement for clean fuels, while airlines like Lufthansa now charge up to $70 extra per ticket to offset SAF costs. Aircraft investor Robert Korn emphasized the power of capital to push green design changes—like reduced drag models that save 20–30% fuel. Korn also spotlighted his new U.S.-based big data venture that allows airlines to tap into unused military airspace—cutting flight paths and CO2 emissions. Soundbites: “By 2050, all airlines must comply—there’s no way around SAF.” — Safan Al Aryani“We only pollute 2%, but we’re among the most active industries working on sustainability.” — Carlos Duarte“Innovation isn’t one grand solution—it’s hundreds of smart decisions.” — Robert Korn “We Found Microplastics in the Middle of Nowhere” — Storytelling as Science STORYTELLING SESSION: Orcas, Science, Ourselves Speaker:  Ricardo Nascimento, Underwater Cinematographer & Director Ricardo Nascimento’s session was less talk, more transcendence. From close encounters with sperm whales to Orcas snatching tuna off Moroccan fishing lines, the ocean came alive. His documentary project focuses on two Orca families whose behavioral changes—possibly driven by human fishing interference—led to infamous interactions with sailboats in the Strait of Gibraltar. Beyond marine life, Ricardo connected Orcas’ matriarchal knowledge-sharing to our own storytelling patterns—warning that the “narrative we tell ourselves” is just as important as any climate policy. Soundbites: “If we tell ourselves we’re not good enough, our brain believes it. Storytelling is survival.” — Ricardo Nascimento“Orcas are working smarter, not harder—they're collaborating with fishermen.” — Ricardo Nascimento“People protect what they love. They love what they understand. And they understand what they’re taught.” — Ricardo Nascimento “Crickets Don’t Fart Like Cows” — Circular Food Futures SESSION: Climate-Forward Partnerships and Conservation Initiatives Speakers:  Ralph Slikkerveer, Gonçalo J. Costa, João Canning-Clode, Anna Isserman AkzoNobel’s Ralph Slikkerveer stressed the ripple effect of coatings—less friction, less fuel. His team’s marine paints reduce invasive species by preventing hull fouling. Gonçalo J. Costa, founder of The Cricket Farming Co., made an electrifying pitch for edible insects: lower emissions, no methane, and modular farming you can stack to the ceiling. João Canning-Clode shared how a €50 experiment using bean jars to test heavy metals in microplastics led to a globally cited research paper. Anna Isserman of Pangea Trust spoke about building Europe’s first elephant sanctuary in Portugal, converting a former cattle ranch into a native wildlife haven. Soundbites: “Our crickets eat food waste and turn it into high-protein superfood. The future isn’t beef, it’s bugs.” — Gonçalo J. Costa“With 50 euros, a grocery store, and 50 jars of beans, we produced research cited around the world.” — João Canning-Clode“From circuses to sanctuaries—elephants deserve a second life in Portugal.” — Anna Isserman “We’re Like a Dark Room with Many Doors” — Public-Private Synergy SESSION: Protecting and Restoring Nature Speakers:  Meredith McCurdy, Captain Pedro Videira, Nuno Costa, Joana Branquinho Meredith McCurdy of IUCN's Sports for Nature program emphasized the role of global sports in conservation—pushing for integration of biodiversity goals into hosting and broadcasting. Captain Pedro Videira explained how Portugal's GNR Coastal Unit is addressing marine threats, from illegal wildlife trade to invasive hull-borne species. Nuno Costa of Porsche Ibérica unpacked how Porsche’s carbon-neutral goal includes e-fuel production in Chile and solar-powered dealerships in Portugal. Real estate visionary Joana Branquinho discussed building for long-term resilience—from cork-based Lego-style architecture to reconnecting wealthy investors with wild landscapes. Soundbites: “Nature is a third of the solution to climate change—we just haven’t fully invested in it yet.” — Meredith McCurdy“Portugal’s coast is now a frontline for detecting and stopping ocean-based crimes.” — Captain Pedro Videira“Sustainability isn’t just good ethics. It’s good business.” — Joana Branquinho “It’s About Ourselves” — Closing Reflections FINAL REMARKS Speaker:  Dr. Luísa Mirpuri, Head of Science, Mirpuri Foundation Dr. Luísa Mirpuri closed the session with fire and compassion. From warning pregnant women about mercury in bottom-feeding fish to evangelizing about the power of algae for thyroid health, she made the stakes personal. Her call to action was clear: we must stop polluting the ocean, because the ocean is part of us.