Looking back on 2024, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to escalating tensions in the Middle East and the growing uncertainty following the U.S. elections, the world is facing unprecedented geopolitical challenges. Climate change showed its hand once again with extreme weather events in Europe inflicting costly damage as devastating flash floods in Valencia, Spain, spelled the country’s deadliest disaster in living memory.

The challenges of climate change, geopolitics and energy transition will continue to shape our industry.

However, we have an exciting opportunity to lead the way in shaping a resilient, sustainable future for our industry and society. One way to achieve this is through education and knowledge. IADC, working together with PIANC, has an initiative in 2025 to build a global network of universities with the aim to exchange knowledge between students and to promote the industry to the next generation. The plan is to start with Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and Ghent University in Belgium.

The new magazine, which will alternate with Terra et Aqua, was presented during IADC’s AGM held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in October to tie in with the 1-day conference by IADC and PIANC on Integrating Dredging in Sustainable Development. The conference brought together 150 industry professionals and focussed on greenfield cases around ecosystem services and nature-based solutions, as well as brownfield cases on stakeholder management and adaptive management.

Be sure to subscribe via our website to receive your copy of the new DFSI Magazine, which brings us to this edition of Terra et Aqua. In the pursuit to continually make our industry safer, we highlight the innovative designs submitted for this year’s IADC Safey Awards, along with the two winners, as well as articles on reservoir dredging and the need for a change in the design and construction of reclamation projects.