'Sponge Cities' Can Prevent Floods. Here's How


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As climate change brings unusually heavy rainfall, several urban areas in the world are experiencing devastating floods 

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To combat this, a new urban construction concept of 'Sponge Cities' has gained traction in recent years

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A sponge city is an urban area with abundant trees, lakes and parks, intended to absorb rain and prevent flooding

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It simply involves reducing the number of hard surfaces and increasing the amount of absorbent land, particularly green space

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It is designed to mimic natural processes, allowing urban areas to absorb, store, and purify rainwater, much like a sponge soaks up water

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Sponge cities can effectively reduce the risk of flooding while simultaneously enhancing the quality of urban life

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Though the concept was first proposed in 2000, Chinese government officially promoted it in 2014 to handle urban floods

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Now, cities in US, Germany and Russia are also making use of the concept, through inner-city gardens, improved river drainage and plant-edged sidewalks

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The concept can help cities build climate resilience and create a more sustainable and resilient future, as per experts

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It also aims to make better use of rainwater through architectural, engineering and infrastructural tweaks

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