The following op-ed addresses the increasing frequency and severity of flooding events around the world—such as the record-breaking rainfall in Fort Lauderdale—and argues for a new approach to urban planning: sponge cities. First introduced in China in 2014, sponge cities are designed to absorb, store, and reuse excess rainwater through green infrastructure like permeable pavements, rain gardens, and urban trees. These systems help reduce flood damage, improve water availability, and lower carbon emissions. As climate change accelerates, sponge cities offer a sustainable, life-saving solution for coastal and urban areas globally.

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