Sponge City and social equity: Impact assessment of urban stormwater management in Baicheng City, China

Cities around the world vulnerable to floods have developed new approaches to urban stormwater management with the aim to increase urban resilience. However, flood risk responses often overlook a broader concept of "resilience" able to address environmental equity issues, including the recognition and participation of communities in urban planning processes.

To bridge the gap, this research aims at increasing understanding about the social effects produced by stormwater management projects by assessing how Sponge City programs in China perform from a social equity perspective. Building on a tripartite framework which includes the equitable access to services and opportunities, the acknowledgement of minorities and vulnerable groups and the equitable participation in decision-making processes (distributional, recognitional, and procedural equity), this paper develops an assessment methodology and related indicators that are customized to the Sponge City program. This tripartite framework adapted to the Chinese context also suggests a roadmap for achieving social equity objectives in future urban development initiatives.

The results show that the Sponge City program in Baicheng has enhanced distributional equity significantly. However, recognitional equity and procedural equity still need to be improved, and mechanisms to support public participation enhanced.