This morning, the Atlantic shimmered in Cascais — calm on the surface, restless beneath. I was back at the Economist Oceans Conference, where conversations around sustainability, innovation, and responsibility felt sharper than ever. The setting — Portugal’s coast, where light dances between sky and sea — reminded me why we do this work.
The panels moved effortlessly between ocean conservation, climate-resilient economies, and blue-carbon innovation, revealing a truth that still startles me: although 71 percent of our planet is ocean, SDG 14: Life Below Water receives the least funding of all United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our seas are choking — from plastics, from toxins, from our own indifference.
It’s a sentence that lands heavier each year. Yet among the scientists, policymakers, and dreamers here in Cascais, there’s a current of optimism — a belief that design, technology, and collaboration can still rewrite the narrative.
For me, this gathering marks another waypoint on the road to EarthX 2026 — where Environmental Xperience will showcase the next generation of green building, circular design, and climate solutions that protect not only our cities but also the seas that surround them. The journey from ocean to architecture is closer than it seems; both are about balance, regeneration, and care.
I’m honoured to share that we are now in the early stages of planning what may become the world’s largest Rotary Oceans Conference, set for next April. A global call to action — to restore, protect, and reimagine our oceans for the century ahead.
Volunteers are welcome. Most of the work can be done from anywhere — just a laptop, commitment, and heart. Together, we can transform ideas into impact, projects into movements, and shorelines into stories of renewal.
If this speaks to you, reach out. Join the Environmental Xperience journey to EarthX 2026 — where land meets sea, and action meets hope.