Make cities spongier.

The article discusses the need to make Canadian cities more absorbent in order to combat the threat of climate change-fueled flooding. The author argues that traditional urban design, which directs water into drains and underground pipes, disrupts the natural cycle of water and is no longer sufficient to handle severe storms and increased urbanization. The solution proposed is to create "sponge cities" or "blue-green" cities, which incorporate new infrastructure alongside existing water management systems to increase their capacity. Examples of sponge technologies include porous growing media, green roofs, and pocket parks. While some Canadian cities have started implementing sponge-city infrastructure, cost remains a barrier to widespread adoption. The author believes that making cities more absorbent would not only help protect against flooding but also contribute to climate adaptation goals and mitigate the development of urban heat islands. [Extracted from the article]

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