Author(s)

Joel Thomas

School of Education and Human Development, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.

Recent catastrophic flooding events across the globe have starkly highlighted the vulnerability of urban centers designed around 20th-century climate norms. As hydro-meteorological hazards intensify globally, China’s large-scale investment in nature-based urban design offers a critical case study in cost-saving long-term resilience. This article examines the value proposition of the Sponge City concept, a paradigm shift in urban water management pioneered by Dr. Kongjian Yu and implemented across China, as a strategic response to increasing climate volatility. We evaluate and compare the economic, social, and environmental costs and savings of the integrated Green Infrastructure-Sponge City approach vs. the conventional Grey Infrastructure approach to sustainable urban adaptation, providing a framework for decision-making.

Climate Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction, Flood, Green Infrastructure, Resilience, Sponge City, Stormwater, Sustainability, Urban Planning

Thomas, J. (2025) Nature-Based Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction: Sponge Cities Increase Resilience, Reduce Risks, and Lower the Costs of Floods. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 17, 798-809. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2025.1711044.