Cool Cities? Water management in a future of climate extremes

In urban areas, very large areas are built on and sealed off. We feel the consequences of this particularly during heatwaves and heavy rainfall, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to climate change: tarmacked surfaces trap heat, and rainwater cannot seep away immediately. This raises the question of how we can make our water management sustainable for the future.

What these challenges mean for urban water management is a key area of research for Prof. Dr Max Maurer at the water research institute EAWAG. The ‘sponge city’ concept is particularly promising in this regard. Together with the Climate Grandparents, the environmental engineer and Head of the Institute of Environmental Engineering at ETH Zurich discusses measures and the background to them – and what society can do to help.

The Climate Grandparents are a non-profit and politically independent organisation. As representatives of the older generation, they campaign for climate protection, climate justice, the preservation of biodiversity and a future fit for our grandchildren.