Project O, a nonprofit, has recertified Malibu as a “Blue City” through the Blue City Network. The recertification recognizes the city’s continued work to protect its coastline, creeks and ocean waters, the city announced Oct. 27.
Five years after its initial certification in 2021, Malibu advanced a full tier to Ocean Hero status, or Tier 3. The city scored 480 points, an improvement of 120 points over its original assessment.
“Malibu has a longstanding commitment to protecting our coastline and natural environment,” Mayor Bruce Silverstein said. “Achieving Ocean Hero status reflects our progress despite significant challenges and reinforces our commitment to protecting our oceans and waterways for future generations.”
The certification uses a data-driven approach to assess city efforts to protect oceans and waterways and advance sustainability. It is renewed every five years.
In its 2026 recertification, Malibu improved its score in all four solution areas. Its strongest gains came in climate protection and community resilience. The city made that progress while continuing recovery efforts after the Palisades and Franklin fires.
Malibu’s sustainability efforts date to at least 2005, when the city enacted citywide bans on polystyrene foam. Information on the city’s environmental program accomplishments is available at www.malibucity.org/enviro.
The Blue City Network brings communities together to protect oceans and waterways. It uses a transparent framework for measuring environmental progress, identifying improvements and sharing successful strategies.
The network is supported by Project O, a Laguna Beach-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to ocean conservation, marine ecosystem protection and education about ocean stewardship and plastic pollution. More information is available at www.project-o.org and www.bluecitynetwork.org.
Information on the city’s Coastal Environmental Program is available at https://www.malibucity.org/859/Coastal or from Environmental Sustainability Analyst Lyndsey Baughman at LBaughman@malibucity.org.