New research  finds that a combination of extreme climate events, sea-level rise and land subsidence could create larger and deeper floods in coastal cities in future. 

The study focused on Shanghai in China, which is threatened with flooding by large and strong typhoons, or tropical storms, producing storm surges and waves. To avoid disaster a major adaptation effort is required - which will almost certainly include raising defences and constructing mobile flood barriers, like those seen at the Thames Barrier in London. However, the team warn there is also the risk of “catastrophic failure” of defences due to rising water levels, especially due to the combination of subsidence, sea-level rise and higher surges during typhoons, as occurred in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  

ITHACA, N.Y. - Cornell University scientists have discovered a potentially transformative approach to manufacturing one of the world’s most widely used chemicals – hydrogen peroxide – using nothing more than sunlight, water and air.

A team of researchers from the University of East London (UEL) has found an unexpected solution to one of the construction industry’s biggest carbon problems - and it lies on the shoreline. New findings show that discarded seashells, typically treated as waste, can be transformed into a low-carbon concrete ingredient, potentially cutting significant amounts of CO₂ from one of the world’s most polluting materials and helping drive more sustainable construction.

New research from Rice University and the University of Alberta shows that residents who believe their neighborhoods were exposed to toxic contamination during flooding report significantly higher concerns about future storms and their long-term well-being. The study analyzed survey responses from Houston residents following Hurricane Harvey, focusing on worries related to home, health and neighborhood safety. Researchers found that the combination of flooding and suspected contamination—not flooding alone—was strongly associated with elevated climate concerns, particularly in coastal industrial communities and communities of color. The authors argue that industrial pollution and climate-related flood risks are increasingly interconnected challenges that require coordinated planning and policy responses. The study, published in Natural Hazards Review, highlights the need for improved strategies to protect vulnerable neighborhoods as severe weather events intensify.

The first major study into public attitudes toward degrowth – the notion that high-income economies should prioritise wellbeing over growing production – reveals significant public support for its key ideas across both the UK (74-84%) and US (67-73%).