Sponge cities: how Europe is learning to turn rain from a problem into a resource
The 'sponge city' concept, developed in China in the early 2000s, involves absorbing, retaining and reusing rainwater through green spaces and permeable surfaces. European cities including Malmö, Rotterdam and Copenhagen are already applying similar solutions, and the European Commission is promoting them in the 2025 Water Resilience Strategy. Experts warn: sponge cities are a powerful but not universal tool for protection against floods and drought.

















