The devastation caused by hurricane Irma rounds out a summer in which natural disasters have been constantly on the front of our newspapers- and at the front of our minds. As IHC Global featured a few weeks ago, floods, whether the product of heavy rainfall or extreme storms, have recently swept through countries around the world, causing severe damage and transforming both urban and rural landscapes forever. Their lasting impact on cities has revealed a dangerous flaw in the urban system; unchecked urbanization has neglected to incorporate flood risks and other disaster-prevention parameters into its plans, leaving cities open and vulnerable to catastrophic flooding as climate change continues to raise sea levels and natural disasters become more severe. But some cities- particularly many that are the most vulnerable- are already working on solutions to problems they anticipate, with urbanists implementing innovative ways for cities to prevent flooding, easily meet the challenges, and/or put floodwaters to better use. The Guardian surveyed five projects: green alleys in Chicago that filter and absorb polluted water; carved urban canals in the Yangming Archipelago, China that act as a sponge for the urban area; a new development plan in New York City that will elevate homes in flood-prone areas, and increase housing density in dry areas; a combination of marshes and parallel raised banks for the swamps and wetlands of New Jersey; and floating city structures like schools and toilets piloted in a slum in Dhaka, Bangladesh. These projects are potential game changers, and could help soothe the worries of an anxious urban world. 

What We See

According to a recent survey of global authorities done by CDP, an environmental nonprofit, 103 cities around the world are at serious risk of flooding. And as climate change continues to raise both temperatures and sea levels and disasters become more severe and frequent, that number is likely to rise. So it's gratifying to see cities- the same entities that are actively implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda and the Paris Climate Agreement- taking these warning signs seriously, and putting projects to counter their fears into action. These projects are not the first urban projects breaking onto the scene in the past few years, but they may be the most successful. What makes them unique is their combination of smart and green technology, but what makes them promising is that they think green first, which gives them a leg up in longevity and sustainability. Other projects, like the Bhendi Bazar project in Mumbai, are designed to impress with high tech solutions and glamorous before-and-after photos, but fall short when it comes to focusing primarily on what specifically needs to be addressed for flood mitigation. By thinking green, the projects listed above have been designed with a specific urban area in mind, and their sustainability focus allows them to incorporate solutions for food security, water and sanitation, and urban inclusivity as well (from IHC Global's point of view reflecting an understanding of their interdependence). Cities with similar problems can adopt and adapt these solutions to fit their issues, as demonstrated by the China project, which applied lessons learned from the project in Chicago. These projects present a chance for civil society, the private sector, and government to collaborate on something that is a solid investment in the future of cities. They are symbols of cities as they are today; places that are realistic about the oncoming storms, but are determined to weather those storms with the best overall solutions.

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