In celebration of International Day for Biological Diversity, they hosted a talk at their Broadway Epicenter.
It’s hard not to feel bleak about the climate when you hear that the oceans have broken temperature records every day for the last year. As staggering as the statistics are, Prada Group wants to do their part to help. Sustainability is a big component of their brand’s corporate social responsibility mission whether it’s through their Re-Nylon program or Miu Miu’s upcycled collection. Also key? The Sea Beyond program. Established in 2019 in partnership with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the goal is to raise awareness for sustainability and preservation through educational programs and events.
One such event was a special Prada Possible Conservation held last night in honor of International Day for Biological Diversity at their New York City Broadway location. Featuring Emmy-nominated photographer Enzo Barracco, UNESCO-IOC senior program officer Francesca Santoro, and Meghan Marrero from the National Marine Educators Association, the hour-long panel highlighted how creative mindsets can make an impact in ocean conservation.
Skepticism is to be expected when a luxury brand says they want to help with environmental conservation but Santoro emphasizes that partnership is authentic and impactful. “Normally the people that are reading our documents or looking at what UNESCO does are not the same type of crowd that would be interested in Prada. This helps us spread the message. Studies demonstrate that knowledge is not enough to drive change because what drives human beings are emotions,” she says.
Enzo Barracco, Francesca Santoro, and Meghan Marrero
To that end, that’s where Barracco comes in. A selection of images taken from his books The Noise of Ice: Antarctica and The Skin of Rock Galápagos dot the space, with the most striking being that of an iceberg glinting in the light. “What is the evidence of climate change? It’s an iceberg fighting to survive. As it melts, it rotates, showing the part that was underwater and giving it this unusual shape,” he says. The haunting photo serves as a visual reminder of the work that needs to be done to mitigate rising temperatures. “Photography has the power to communicate a very complex story and it doesn’t need translation.”
As heavy as all of this sounds, the talk wasn’t all doom and gloom. Barracco’s tales about his photos were a highlight as he recalled the process that led to the final product. Whether it was falling in love with an iguana, free diving with sharks, or waiting for hours to capture an Antarctic landscape in all its awe-inspiring glory, it’s easy to see why these images can inspire change. Who doesn’t dream of someday seeing a mere fraction of these scenes in person? For that reason after the exhibit ends on May 27th, these photographs will be donated to schools, as a part of Sea Beyond’s donation to NMEA. 16 schools in the Tristate area will become Blue Schools, institutes that incorporate ocean literacy into their curricula with the goal of supporting the next generation to become stewards. “Enhancing marine education is integral to the health of our global ocean. Today’s students are tomorrow’s decision makers,” says Marrero.
It’s these students that make Barracco hopeful about the future. “I really believe the young generation will fix the problem. The climate crisis is not a crisis of knowledge, it’s a crisis of sensibility,” he says. And Santoro agrees that there’s much to be optimistic for, students and adults alike if we work with nature instead of against it. She explains, “We see the ocean as the biggest victim of climate change but it’s also our best ally to fight [it], as it absorbs 90% of the heat. It’s our solution, if we make the right choices from the food we eat to the way we vote. We can all be ambassadors.”
