From the late 20th century onwards several factors have been mitigating
against the use of hard-engineering schemes along coastlines,
especially in MEDCs where they had often become the norm. Above
all else it has been the escalating costs of coastal defences that has
encouraged authorities to re-assess their attitu?es and a~proaches
towards the protection of land and property agamst the action of the
sea. In addition to this, the increased environmental awareness of
both individuals and society as a whole, the actions and campaigns of
local environmental groups and the retreat away from intensive agriculture
have led to the re-assessment of coastal defence policies.