Green infrastructure and urban sustainability trends

Urban planning is shifting toward green infrastructure to combat the climate crisis, specifically targeting extreme heat and flooding. Traditional concrete-based methods are being replaced by nature-based solutions designed to restore ecosystems and improve human well-being. A key innovation is the ‘sponge city’ concept, where urban surfaces are engineered to absorb, store, and filter rainwater rather than allowing it to run off impermeable asphalt.

In his book ‘La condición urbana’, CSIC researcher Francisco Colom González examines the historical evolution of cities from Neolithic settlements to modern metropolises. He argues that understanding urban environments is essential to addressing the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the coming decades, as cities concentrate the majority of human activity, resources, and consumption.