Shanxi steps up development of sponge cities

Shanxi province has been advancing the construction of sponge cities across the entire region. 

The sponge city is concept which refers to cities that are highly adaptable to environmental changes and adept at dealing with natural disasters caused by rainwater. 

Shanxi will address common issues such as flooding and waterlogging, rapid transitions between drought and waterlogging, polluted waterlogging, soil erosion, and reduced water supply. This will be done through the improvement of planning, construction, and management mechanisms, with a focus on policy guidance, basin governance, and economic industries. 

Sponge city construction standards in areas with collapsible loess and coal mining subsidence will be formulated, encouraging the recycling of construction waste, fly ash, and coal gangue. 

The province will explore the commercialization of rainwater resources by incorporating rainwater resources into water rights trading platforms. It will also encourage the use of private capital in sponge city construction and encourage financial institutions to introduce green credit products for sponge city development.

Additionally, it will introduce regulations specifically for sponge cities and integrate sponge city construction with cultural tourism, park cities, and other initiatives. 

By 2025, Shanxi will strive to ensure that 50 percent of urban built-up areas meet the requirements of sponge city construction, while by 2030, that figure is expected to exceed 80 percent.