AI for Ocean and Coastal Territories – Waves of Change Forum

This special Waves of Change Forum edition is co-hosted and backed by the French Government via its Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Open Innovation Lab ‘Ecolab‘ together with the Coalition for Sustainable AI and our steering committee has been joined officially by the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture (DGAMPA).

The Forum will bring together coastal cities, public decision-makers, international organisations, researchers, startups, SMEs and major technology and maritime stakeholders to explore how artificial intelligence can concretely support ocean protection and coastal resilience.

Over three days, participants will have the opportunity to:
• Discover concrete AI applications for ocean protection and coastal resilience
• Meet startups and SMEs developing innovative solutions for coastal territories
• Exchange with other local authorities, researchers and institutions facing similar challenges
• Take part in high-level discussions, collaborative workshops and networking sessions
• Attend a public session with Olivier Poivre d’Arvor, France’s Ambassador for Polar Affairs and Maritime Issues

When? June 01-03, 2026
Where? Biarritz, FR

Admission is free!
-> Register here: https://luma.com/p4kss1ul
-> Full programme: https://www.wavesofchange.earth/2026-forum

In addition to attending the Forum, coastal cities wishing to take a more active role in shaping the international AI & Ocean agenda are invited to join the Sustainable AI Coalition.

Through its dedicated AI & Ocean vertical, the Coalition is now expanding its community to ocean, maritime and coastal stakeholders. The Biarritz Forum will be an important moment to welcome and highlight new coastal city members, notably during the high-level opening session of the Forum.
By joining, your city will:

• Gain international visibility as one of the first coastal cities engaged in the AI & Ocean community of the Sustainable AI Coalition
• Connect your local ecosystem (startups, SMEs, research institutes and public actors) with international partners working on AI, ocean protection and coastal resilience
• Identify concrete AI use cases and innovative solutions that could be replicated in your territory
• Exchange best practices with other coastal cities facing similar challenges, from sea-level rise to coastal erosion and biodiversity loss
• Contribute to international discussions on responsible, frugal and sustainable AI, alongside leading organisations, research labs and standardisation bodies

Membership is free, open and non-binding.

 -> Learn more about Coalition’s shared vision: https://www.sustainableaicoalition.org/coalition/

-> Join the Coalition: https://www.sustainableaicoalition.org/join-the-coalition/

-> More about the AI & Ocean vertical : https://www.sustainableaicoalition.org/a-look-back-at-the-ocean-and-ai-stream-presented-at-unoc/