The concept of sponge city as a nature-based solution for urban resilience: Insights from stakeholders in Karachi, Pakistan

IF 7 1区经济学 Q1 DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

Habitat International Pub Date : 2025-08-25 DOI:10.1016/j.habitatint.2025.103564

Soni Lubaina , Iqbal Asifa , Shah Ayesha Agha

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Abstract

The vulnerability of growing cities to climatic challenges has led to substantial degradation of ecosystem services resulting in increased flooding and reduced green spaces. Sponge City (SC) concept has been promoted currently, as part of the wider scope of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) as sustainable measure that can be adopted to build resilient cities. However, Pakistan is still far behind in adapting such new practices. Its major cities like Karachi suffer from urban flooding and poor landscape management producing unhealthy urban environments. This study examines the familiarity and willingness of the experts related to architecture, urban planning and environmental development in adapting the concept of SC and the existing practical limitation perceived by these experts in Karachi for SC implementation. It employed a structured questionnaire survey administered to stakeholder groups to ascertain the status of knowledge amongst them related to NBS and SC. The research findings revealed that more than 50 % of experts are familiar with the concept of NBS and are willing to take part in implementing the SC initiatives in Karachi. At the same time, a significant majority of experts (74 %) are of the view that the absence of open and green spaces has a negative impact on quality of life in Karachi. However, most experts (72 %) consider the lack of government support as one of the major hinderances, while others consider high maintenance costs, shortage of skilled individuals and technology as barriers in adapting and implementing the SC concept in Karachi. This research subsequently identifies what could persuade experts to innovate SC concept within their practices. It emphasizes the urgent need for stakeholders and experts to collaborate with policy makers, advocating for a shift in mindset among both educated professionals to uninformed residents to drive meaningful change in the society.

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海绵城市概念作为基于自然的城市韧性解决方案：来自巴基斯坦卡拉奇利益相关者的见解

日益增长的城市对气候挑战的脆弱性导致生态系统服务的严重退化，导致洪水增加和绿地减少。海绵城市（SC）概念目前已被推广，作为更广泛的基于自然的解决方案（NBS）的一部分，作为可用于建设弹性城市的可持续措施。然而，巴基斯坦在适应这些新做法方面仍然远远落后。像卡拉奇这样的主要城市遭受城市洪水和糟糕的景观管理，造成了不健康的城市环境。本研究考察了建筑、城市规划和环境发展相关专家在适应可持续发展概念方面的熟悉程度和意愿，以及这些专家在卡拉奇对可持续发展实施的现有实际限制。它采用了一份结构化的问卷调查，对利益相关者群体进行调查，以确定他们之间与NBS和SC相关的知识状况。研究结果显示，超过50%的专家熟悉NBS的概念，并愿意参与在卡拉奇实施SC倡议。与此同时，绝大多数专家（74%）认为，缺乏开放和绿色空间对卡拉奇的生活质量产生了负面影响。然而，大多数专家（72%）认为缺乏政府支持是主要障碍之一，而其他人则认为高昂的维护成本、熟练人员和技术短缺是在卡拉奇适应和实施SC概念的障碍。这项研究随后确定了什么可以说服专家在他们的实践中创新供应链概念。它强调利益相关者和专家迫切需要与政策制定者合作，倡导在受过教育的专业人士和不知情的居民之间转变思维方式，以推动社会发生有意义的变化。

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来源期刊

Habitat International Multiple-

CiteScore

10.50

自引率

10.30%

发文量

151

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Habitat International is dedicated to the study of urban and rural human settlements: their planning, design, production and management. Its main focus is on urbanisation in its broadest sense in the developing world. However, increasingly the interrelationships and linkages between cities and towns in the developing and developed worlds are becoming apparent and solutions to the problems that result are urgently required. The economic, social, technological and political systems of the world are intertwined and changes in one region almost always affect other regions.