From Concept to Practice

Evidence and Lessons from Sponge City Implementation in Shenzhen, China

Bibliographic Data

ID13113113
AuthorsHugo Pinto (0000-0002-8497-4798, University of Algarve), Jennifer Nicole Elston (0009-0000-7500-5111, University of Algarve, corresponding author), Ojo Segun Sunday (University of Algarve), Carla Nogueira (0000-0002-1781-9675, University of Algarve)
Year2026
Volume10
Issue3
Pages135-135
Publication date2026-03-03
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueUrban Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2413-8851 • E-ISSN: 2413-8851
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/urbansci10030135
OpenAlexW7133349473
LanguageEN
References cited38

Urban flooding represents an increasingly critical challenge in rapidly urbanizing cities, where high-density development and climate variability intensify hydrological vulnerability. This article presents an analytically focused case study of Shenzhen, a national Sponge City pilot, to examine not only whether nature-based interventions are associated with flood-resilience gains but also under what spatial, institutional, and governance conditions such gains emerge. The study adopts a qualitative mixed-methods case-study design based on secondary sources, integrating observed flood-event records, reported hydrological and water-quality indicators, model-based projections, and systematic policy analysis. Drawing on data from 2006–2020, the analysis explicitly distinguishes observed outcomes, reported performance indicators, and inferred effects, addressing a key methodological limitation in existing Sponge City assessments. Results indicate that, within designated pilot zones, Sponge City interventions are associated with reduced surface runoff, attenuated peak flows, and reported improvements in pollutant filtration, particularly where green infrastructure density and monitoring capacity are high. However, these performance patterns are spatially uneven and mediated by governance constraints, including institutional fragmentation and maintenance capacity. The principal contribution of the study lies in identifying governance–infrastructure mechanisms that condition Sponge City performance and scalability. By treating Shenzhen as a critical rather than representative case, the article offers analytically transferable insights into the effectiveness, durability, and limits of nature-based flood-management strategies in high-capacity urban contexts

China · Corporate governance · Flooding (psychology · Green infrastructure · Psychological intervention · Sustainability · Coastal and Marine Dynamics · Flood Risk Assessment and Management · Urban Stormwater Management Solutions

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