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[TECHNOLOGY] · China, EU · 4 sources

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Part of situation: Sponge city urban planning implementation (2 clusters)

Sponge city model offers urban flood and drought resilience

sponge cities urban planning flood mitigation water management climate adaptation

The ‘sponge city’ urban planning model is being considered as a solution to the extreme weather fluctuations facing European cities, where regions alternate between heavy storms and severe droughts.

Developed in China by landscape architect Kongjian Yu in the early 2000s, the model focuses on retrofitting urban areas with green spaces, permeable surfaces, and water storage systems. These features, such as wetlands and ponds, are designed to absorb and retain rainwater, reducing the pressure on drainage systems during storms while providing a water supply for irrigation and groundwater recharge during dry periods.

Beyond water management, the model offers secondary benefits including cooling city streets during heatwaves and providing moisture to help protect against wildfires. Following devastating floods in Beijing in 2012, China implemented national guidelines for the model in 2014 and has set a goal to have 80 per cent of its built-up urban areas functioning as sponge cities by 2030.

Entities

Arup · Beijing · China · Justin Abbott · Kongjian Yu

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

Tokyo 35-Day Rain Record: What It Means for the City [northernforum.net]
Las ciudades esponja de Europa convierten la lluvia en un recurso valioso [es.euronews.com]
Le città spugna europee trasformano la pioggia da rifiuto in risorsa preziosa [it.euronews.com]
Can ‘sponge cities’ help Europe cope with floods and droughts? [www.euronews.com]