£26m Swansea Flood Defence, Promenade Officially Opens

A £26 million flood defense and promenade project in Mumbles near Swansea has been completed, covering 1.2 km of shoreline to protect homes and businesses from coastal flooding while providing a wider and more attractive promenade. Swansea council leader Rob Stewart praised the new seafront, saying it can rival those in the Mediterranean, and Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies highlighted the increasing risks from rising sea levels and the need to prioritize coastal defenses. Local residents and business owners expressed optimism that the project will improve the environment and boost visitor numbers despite some loss of bay views. In Vermont, Island Pond's 15-acre island, a beloved local feature, was purchased for $1.1 million by the state to ensure public access and conserve its unique ecology, including a rare redwood forest and wildlife habitats. Meanwhile, in Queensland, Australia, a $30 million investment aims to rehabilitate waterways with over 30 projects, including planting 200,000 native trees, installing 200 cod hotels to aid the critically endangered Mary River Cod, and launching the region's first platypus-monitoring program using eDNA water testing. These initiatives reflect growing efforts globally to protect natural habitats and manage environmental challenges posed by climate change and human impact.