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Although they are not a permanent solution, they offer a way to live more environmentally sustainable. China is at the forefront of this innovation, demonstrating how integrating nature into urban infrastructure can make a significant difference to the quality of life in cities.
Amid the challenges posed by climate change, China is taking an innovative approach to making its cities more resilient to flooding. The concept of "sponge cities” is being implemented in several regions of the country, combining natural infrastructure with advanced engineering.
What are sponge cities?
As Sponge cities are designed to absorb and reuse rainwater, reducing the risk of urban flooding. These cities use urban parks, like Nanchang, filled with native trees and volcanic rocks, to create an effective natural drainage system. The goal is to improve urban drainage and flood prevention, as well as creating a biologically diverse environment.
Biodiversity plays a crucial role in defending the Earth against climate change. Healthy cities, with native forests and plants, are essential for absorbing carbon dioxide and supporting crop pollination. However, continued urban expansion could lead to habitat loss and negatively affect global biodiversity.
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Implementation of sponge cities in China
In 2015, China launched a pilot program in 30 cities to promote the construction of sponge cities. Architects and engineers are reintegrating natural solutions, such as rain-harvesting gardens and native trees, to complement existing gray infrastructure. These solutions are inspired by old drainage systems, which have already demonstrated effectiveness in management of rainwater.
Despite the benefits, sponge cities face limitations; in 2021, flooding in Zhengzhou revealed that these systems have limited water absorption capacity. And we can go further by saying that the implementation of spongy infrastructure varies significantly from city to city, due to climatic, hydrological and socioeconomic differences.
Adaptation of cities in the USA
In the United States, cities such as Los Angeles and Boston are adapting the concept of natural infrastructure, using existing green spaces. They are experimenting with planting vegetation on sidewalks and creating green spaces in medians. According to the Sheet, floods have increased in the USA and some incidents have even led to fatalities, in Brazil it is no different either, we look forward to innovations similar to China in our country.
