China's "Sponge Cities" and Flood Vulnerability

Recent devastating floods in China have raised questions about the effectiveness of the country's "sponge city" initiative, which was launched in 2015 to mitigate urban flood risks.

• China's "sponge city" initiative aimed to enhance flood resilience in urban areas by using nature-based solutions to manage water distribution, drainage, and storage.
• The initiative involved various measures such as permeable asphalt, new canals, ponds, and wetland restoration to improve drainage and reduce waterlogging.
• Despite the initiative, recent floods have caused significant damage and loss of life, prompting concerns about its effectiveness.
• In July, floods and geological disasters led to 142 deaths, ....