Concrete fuels climate change – but there's a nature-friendly way to defend coasts from rising seas

New breakwater designs and more sustainable materials can cut the carbon cost of coastal defences by 40%.

Ali Abbas, Associate Professor of Structural Engineering, University of East London • conversation
March 22, 2022 • ~7 min

A 20-foot sea wall won’t save Miami – how living structures can help protect the coast and keep the paradise vibe

Healthy corals and mangroves break waves and dissipate their energy. Paired with unobtrusive hardened structures, they can provide powerful storm solutions.

Brian Haus, Professor of Ocean Sciences, University of Miami • conversation
July 28, 2021 • ~10 min

Protecting mangroves can prevent billions of dollars in global flooding damage every year

A new study estimates that mangroves prevent over $65 billion in damage from coastal storms every year, and says mangrove protection should be funded in the same way as infrastructure like seawalls.

Pelayo Menéndez, Postdoctoral Fellow in Marine Science, University of California, Santa Cruz • conversation
March 10, 2020 • ~8 min

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