Danish firm Vestas is set to install a 15 MW wind turbine on the waterfront in Thyborøn. The turbine, which has been ordered by a local business, should be up and running in Q2 2024. The project has been crowdfunded by more than 2,800 sponsors. The municipal authority and residents of Lemvig (Denmark) are aiming to develop a local industrial tourism sector, enabling visitors to come and see the giant turbine with its 236 m diameter rotor.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water has launched an initiative to improve the health of the country’s urban rivers. The aim is to bring together institutional stakeholders including the research community, private enterprise, and the non-profit sector, to promote sustainable use of waterways. Tests have been carried out to identify major sources of pollution and areas at risk of flooding in various cities. The initiative also aims to leverage waterways’ potential to improve quality of life, with a particular focus on developing waterfront parks in Sofia, the first city to get on board with the approach. Other cities are also planning to join the initiative.

Madagascar’s fisheries industry generates about $750 million annually, which is 5-7% of its GDP. Recently, the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) released Madagascar’s first fisheries transparency report, which disclosed information about large vessels’ (both foreign and domestic) quotas and modes of operation. Before the launch of the online information portal in July 2023, there was a lack of transparency in the sector. It remains difficult to disseminate information to small-scale fishers. The report was developed by a multi-stakeholder group comprising 12 organizations and institutions representing all types of fisheries. It showcases the country’s will to open up, democratize, and improve the sustainability of the fisheries sector.

Port Tarragona (Spain) is set to commence a 12-month restoration project on the Prats of Albinyana starting in late March 2024. The work in this natural area, part of the Natura 2000 Network, aims to enhance the recovery and improvement of the natural environment. The Prats of Albinyana, spanning 37.78 hectares, holds significant environmental and landscape value. An environmental monitoring committee, comprising the port and Vila-Seca city, will oversee the project. The restoration includes building a lagoon and riverside woodland to revive wetland properties. While primarily focused on environmental aspects, the project also prioritizes preserving the Roman villa site of Calipolis and ensuring public access through paths, wildlife viewpoints, and walkways.

Projects are in development in Battery Park, Manhattan (USA), to strengthen local resiliency against climate change. The South Battery Park area is looking to become part of an integrated coastal flood control system to provide risk reduction. The Offshore Towers project is using caisson technology for land reclamation, creating new mixed-use spaces to promote urban integration, mitigate environmental impacts, optimise underwater space, and pave the way for local electricity generation.