EU launches Sponge Facility to boost nature-based flood and drought defenses in cities
The European Union is establishing a Sponge Facility to fund nature-based projects that turn urban rainwater into a usable resource and reduce flood and drought risks.
To help European cities cope with increasingly erratic weather, the European Commission is creating a Sponge Facility that will finance nature-based water management projects. The "sponge city" model, first devised by Chinese landscape architect Kongjian Yu, relies on green roofs, wetlands, permeable pavements and underground storage to absorb and reuse rainwater. Pilot installations in Malmö, Rotterdam's Benthemplein water square, and Copenhagen's Tåsinge Plads have shown reduced flood damage and added recreational benefits.
Justin Abbott of Arup stresses that while sponge measures are powerful, they cannot replace conventional drainage, reservoirs, and flood channels. The EU aims to expand such initiatives despite difficulties posed by protected heritage sites and dense urban layouts, advocating incremental steps like removing paving and planting trees. Successful implementation could make urban water cycles more resilient across the continent.
Why it matters
Adapting cities to capture and reuse rainwater can lessen flood damage and drought stress as climate extremes intensify.
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