Los Angeles area Event report • Committees
LA Climate Week 2026 - The Blue Forum: Innovators and Experts in Ocean Tech
Hosted at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles in partnership with Braid Theory, the event highlighted how innovation, exploration, and collaboration are driving tangible solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing our marine ecosystems.
The afternoon opened with inspiring keynote presentations from two leading figures in ocean conservation and exploration.
Jean-Louis Etienne, renowned explorer and physician, shared insights into the ambitious Polar Pod project, a revolutionary oceanographic platform designed to drift through the Southern Ocean and collect critical data on climate and ocean health.
Fabien Lamaison, Executive Director of Plastic Odyssey, reflected on Plastic Odyssey's remarkable 3.5-year expedition across 30 countries dedicated to tackling ocean plastic pollution. He shared lessons learned from coastal communities around the world and presented the organization's upcoming missions.
The discussion continued with the panel "Engineering Marine Solutions: Next-Gen Alternatives to Plastics and Pollution," moderated by Alexandra Farah and Amandine Richard, co-founders of recurvence. Panelists Michael Arens (Clean Earth Rovers), Mayela Fernandez Cantu (Ecoplasticity), and Emma Lamb (Viable Gear) explored emerging technologies and scalable solutions aimed at reducing marine pollution and accelerating the adoption of sustainable materials.
Several key themes emerged throughout the afternoon:
- Alternatives to traditional plastics are rapidly scaling. From SeaTwine to sargassum-based coatings, biomaterials are moving from innovation to deployment.
- Ocean cleanup efforts are becoming increasingly industrialized. From Plastic Odyssey’s global expeditions to autonomous coastal rovers, solutions are no longer fragmented — they’re system-level.
- Exploration remains a powerful driver of innovation. Projects like Polar Pod are redefining how we collect data, understand oceans, and act on climate.
Following the discussions, attendees enjoyed an exclusive tour of AltaSea's innovation campus, discovered pioneering ocean-tech startups, and connected with fellow professionals, entrepreneurs, and sustainability advocates during a networking session.
A special thank you to our food partner Savory Gourmet and wine partner Chandon for helping create a welcoming environment for meaningful conversations and new collaborations.
Thank you to all speakers, partners, and participants who contributed to the success of this event and continue to drive innovation for a healthier and more sustainable future for our oceans.
