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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/as.2025.06.004

Toward Climate-Resilient Cities: A Review of Nature-based Solutions for Urban Flood Management

Mahmoud Mabrouk

Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt.

*Corresponding author:Mahmoud Mabrouk

Published: October 27,2025

Abstract

Urban flooding represents one of the most pressing challenges for cities worldwide, exacerbated by climate change and rapid urbanization. Conventional grey infrastructure often proves inadequate in addressing these complex hydrological threats, prompting increased attention to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as sustainable alternatives. This comprehensive review examines the role of NbS in advancing climate-resilient urban development through effective flood management. Analyzing 42 peer-reviewed studies selected through systematic screening, we identify key implementation trends across geographic regions and climatic contexts. The evidence demonstrates that NbS strategies—including sponge city concepts, green infrastructure, and blue-green corridors—can reduce stormwater runoff by 30-75% while providing significant co-benefits such as enhanced biodiversity, urban heat island mitigation, and improved public well-being. However, substantial barriers persist, in-cluding institutional fragmentation, limited funding mechanisms, and regulatory constraints. Successful implementation requires integrated governance approaches, updated planning frameworks, dedicated financial instruments, and meaningful community engagement. This review concludes that NbS represent not merely complementary measures but essential components of climate adaptation strategies, offering multifunctional pathways toward creating more resilient, sustainable, and livable urban environments.

Keywords

Nature-based Solutions; Blue-Green Infrastructure; Flood Resilience; Sustainable Cities; Spatial Planning

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How to cite this paper

Toward Climate-Resilient Cities: A Review of Nature-based Solutions for Urban Flood Management

How to cite this paper: Mahmoud Mabrouk. (2025). Toward Climate-Resilient Cities: A Review of Nature-based Solutions for Urban Flood Management. Advance in Sustainability5(1), 28-39.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/as.2025.06.004