From Concept to Action: Advancing Sponge City Solutions for a Nature-Integrated Urban Future in Thailand
A knowledge-sharing session hosted by GIZ Thailand through the Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon & Resilient Cities Project (Urban-Act) in partnership with Thailand’s Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT), tackled exactly that question, bringing global and local experts together on the theme “Urban Greening and Sponge City Strategies: From Concepts to Practice.”

The event, featuring contributions from both Thai and international experts in urban nature-based solutions, highlighted how cities around the world are rethinking urban planning and landscape design by working with nature rather than against it. The discussion also explored the role of climate data in urban planning and design, drawing insights and examples from international case studies.

Held at the DPT, Rama 9 office in Bangkok, on 14 February 2025, attendees included representatives from national and provincial offices of the DPT, urban and spatial planners and policy and plan analysts, town planning engineers and urban architects. Participants from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) and Office of National Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) also joined, with approximately 100 people attending online and in person.

Why Cities Need Sponge Cities: Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for Urban Flooding
As climate change drives more frequent urban flooding, traditional concrete-heavy infrastructure can’t keep up—rainwater quickly turns into runoff, overwhelming drainage systems and causing damage to homes, roads and public spaces.

This is where the sponge city concept comes in — designing cities to absorb, store and reuse rainwater using green infrastructure like parks, wetlands and permeable surfaces.

This nature-based approach reduces flood risks, improves water quality, cools urban areas and boosts resilience. Sponge cities help us rethink urban design for a more adaptable, sustainable and livable city in a changing climate.

Learning Design for Life from Copenhagen

Jakob Brandtberg Knudsen, Dean of Architecture at the Royal Danish Academy, presented examples from Copenhagen, a city praised for its people-centred and climate-friendly design. From stormwater-absorbing parks to extensive cycling infrastructure, Copenhagen demonstrates how urban greening can boost resilience and livability.

Shanghai’s sponge city model offers a blueprint for Bangkok
Dr Wang Xin, Deputy Dean of the Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development, Tongji University, highlighted how Shanghai’s sponge city plan blends nature with urban infrastructure to reduce floods and reuse rainwater.

Covering a massive urban area and spanning more than 6,600 square kilometers, the city’s master plan includes green roofs, rain gardens and eco-friendly drainage. The city aims to retain 70% of rainfall by 2035.

For Bangkok, where heavy rainfall often overwhelms drainage systems, such models offer valuable lessons in long-term planning and decentralised water management.

Cities Can Breathe Better through Smart Design and Cleaner Air
Dr Wang Chao, postdoctoral researcher at Tongji University, showcased how simulation technology can help cities tackle air pollution and urban heat. Using tools like remote sensing and airflow models, planners can design better building layouts, green spaces, and ventilation corridors.

These insights offer Bangkok a pathway to healthier urban living through smarter, climate-sensitive city planning.

Data, Policy, and Participation

Dr Valentin Meilinger from the German Environment Agency emphasised the importance of national-level support. Germany’s “sponge city” journey is backed by laws that treat rainwater as a resource, not waste. Municipalities receive funding for green roofs and are guided by maps showing heat vulnerability and flood risks.

Thailand’s Homegrown Solutions
Closer to home, Thailand has already begun applying similar nature-based strategies. Pakkasem Tongchai from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) presented pilot projects from Chiang Rai and Surat Thani. Both provinces are piloting “Nature-Based Solutions” (NBS).

In Chiang Rai, the focus is on restoring urban waterways like the Mae Korn and Mae Yao streams. Using old maps, aerial photos and community feedback, planners identified 11 key areas where degraded ecosystems could be revived.

Surat Thani, meanwhile, is redesigning Suan Luang Ratchakan Park—a former wetland—so it can once again retain water during heavy rains. The project also includes efforts to remove invasive plant species, promote native flora and retrofit drainage systems for better flood resilience.

The session also stressed the importance of community engagement. In both Chiang Rai and Surat Thani, local governments, residents and even artists were involved in designing and supporting the NBS measures. Workshops and public meetings ensured the projects reflect community needs and values.

Looking Ahead
Bangkok and other Thai cities are facing increasingly severe weather due to climate change, including heatwaves, floods and air pollution. This knowledge session made one thing clear: urban greening, sustainable transport and smart water management are no longer just ideas—they are necessities.

Anchalee Tanwanich, Senior Advisor on Town and Country Planning at DPT, emphasised the importance of knowledge exchange, noting that Thailand is not starting from scratch. The country already possesses knowledge, tools, and local wisdom — the solutions already exist. We just need to bring together local and global knowledge for the best outcomes.

A vibrant exchange of ideas sparked fresh thinking on sponge city concepts—where global insights met local action to reimagine sustainable urban planning.

With lessons from Copenhagen, Shanghai, Germany and Thailand’s project-level cases from Chiang Rai and Surat Thani on the table, Thailand is taking steps toward a future where cities don’t just grow—they breathe, soak and thrive.

Want to learn more?
Visit our Urban-Act Climate Conscious Cities series on the Nature-based solutions for hot cities —watch the recording and read the summary. These discussions aim to bring global lessons to local action—the best time to green our cities was yesterday, and the following best is now.