China’s Sponge Cities Are Turning Streets Green to Combat Flooding
Responding to increasing climate change-induced water-related risks such as flooding, the Chinese government stipulated the Sponge City Initiative in 2015, which has set targets to equip 20% of built area in 30 designated sponge city districts with sponge city functions by 2020, further increasing to 80% by 2030. These present nature-based solutions to increase urban resilience through restoring urban water cycles. Shanghai’s Lingang district has been chosen as one such pilot to embrace the sponge city concept, deploying and integrating more ecological, water-sensitive alternatives such as green roofs, previous pavements and wetland restoration projects. While first and foremost serving the functions of climate change adaptation, this nature-based redesign also offers other benefits, for instance fostering biodiversity, contributing to public health and encouraging social interaction. To the article...
