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.