Can nature-based alternatives to seawalls keep the waves at bay?

Hard sea defenses prompted by extreme weather and rising sea levels can have unintended consequences down the coast - is there a better way?

Areas across the US staring down a greater risk of flooding due to extreme weather and sea level rise are turning to a stark solution: building a wall.

In Miami, a 20ft seawall has been proposed. In Charleston, South Carolina, a $1.1bn plan to build a seawall around the city's downtown awaits sign-off from Congress. And in New York City, a 2.5-mile seawall under construction along the shoreline of lower Manhattan is expected to be finished by 2026.