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Rainwater management in Gdańsk presents significant challenges due to the city's hydromorphological conditions, including high groundwater levels and steep terrain. These factors, coupled with the periodic inefficiency of the storm sewer system and the intensification of extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, have necessitated innovative solutions. Gdańsk has responded by implementing a climate change adaptation policy that promotes the use of open drainage systems, including small retention facilities like rain gardens. These gardens help mitigate the risks associated with excessive rainfall while enhancing urban sustainability.
The first rain garden in Gdańsk was established in the Stogi district at the Flood Control Warehouse on Kaczeńce Street. This facility collects and utilizes rainwater from nearby paved surfaces, aiming to manage rainfall of at least 30 mm during intense, short-term downpours. Utilizing a variety of perennials such as marsh marigold, common loosestrife, comfrey, hemp agrimony, common calamus, and arrowhead, the garden retains and filters rainwater naturally, increasing efficiency and ecological benefits. Rain gardens absorb water up to 40% better than traditional lawns. They reduce rainwater runoff, mitigate flood risks, filter pollutants, improve biodiversity, and enhance urban air quality while lowering temperatures.
The garden was created as part of a broader investment in the Flood Control Warehouse in Stogi, a facility opened in 2017 at a cost of over PLN 5 million. Strategically located near the Sucharski Route and the Martwa Wisła tunnel, the warehouse supports rapid response to flood emergencies, storing over 100 types of equipment, from shovels to large generators. This combination of infrastructure and green solutions demonstrates Gdańsk's commitment to urban resilience and environmental sustainability. (1-4)

The Torre Sevilla is a commercial building complex with extensive green roofs. The green roofs cover 11000 or 12000 m2 (different sources report different numbers) and aim to contribute to thermal isolation and energy efficiency of the building, improve air quality and provide an urban green space for relaxation and recreation [Ref. 1-3]. The green roofs include a mosaic of different vegetation types and about 60 mostly native plant species. There is a rainwater recovery system that allows the gardens to be irrigated in a sustainable way [Ref. 1-3, 6]. The building finished construction in 2017 and the gardens were initially not available to the public. In 2023, the owner applied for a permit to host events in the gardens, which will allow the public to visit on occasion [Ref. 1, 3-5].

In Phoenix, over half a million people are facing hunger, including schoolchildren, working parents, seniors on fixed incomes, and other marginalized groups. Factors such as limited food access and poor food quality—commonly referred to as 'food deserts'—worsen the problem. Food deserts are areas where residents have little to no access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Of the 55 food deserts in Maricopa County, 43 are located in Phoenix, affecting nearly half of the city's population
Agave Environmental Contracting, an NGO, is working to address food scarcity through education. The organization founded the Urban Farming Education (UFE) program to teach people how to grow their own food as a solution to food insecurity and to promote agricultural opportunities throughout the Valley. The goal of UFE is to educate individuals on creating their own gardens for sustenance, ecotherapy, social impact, and even urban farming for profit.
The program specifically targets schools, domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, foster care prevention centers, and communities with disabled or elderly residents. In 2024, UFE partnered with the Valencia Newcomer School to install raised garden beds filled with roses and fruit trees. This project provided hands-on STEM learning during the installation, fostered networking opportunities through industry experts and community members, and helped promote the UFE program. It also highlighted how the initiative contributes to urban farming education and empowers local communities. (1-5, 7)

The Prinzessinnengarten Kollektiv Berlin is a community garden in the New St Jacobi Cemetery in Berlin-Neukölln that invites people to join in gardening and experience nature. As part of open gardening days, people can participate in the design of the garden areas and gain experience in the local, ecological cultivation of useful plants. The main aim of their work is to provide opportunities for education and participation. Activities are open to everyone and range from sowing, planting and harvesting to seed production, processing and preserving vegetables, keeping bees to questions of community-based urban habitat design.The community also has its own farm shop where seeds, food and processed products are sold. (Ref. 1; Ref. 4) Numerous projects for recycling and upcycling, innovative cultivation methods, organic beekeeping, composting methods and post-fossil mobility use the Prinzessinnengarten as a platform for sustainable urban living. Artists also work in the garden with participatory methods on the question of how cities and their coexistence can be designed in a sustainable and resource-saving way. Outside the Prinzessinnengarten, offshoot gardens are set up and collaborations are developed to build nationwide and European networks. Through lectures, workshops, study visits and participatory research in the garden, we endeavour to include and further develop the topics associated with the Prinzessinnengarten in discussions and education. (Ref. 7)

The project is located on a cemetery, which has been partially closed since 2016. This means that burials are no longer carried out on the site and the existing rights of use of the 500 or so remaining graves will no longer be extended after expiry. The church association lends the land to the project in exchange for maintenance work on the surrounding grounds. (Ref. 6)

The revitalization and environmental recovery initiative in the Almirante Colón neighborhood of Cartagena focused on transforming green spaces and addressing environmental hazards posed by improper waste disposal and urban degradation. The primary goals of the project were to enhance urban green spaces, improve community well-being, and mitigate environmental hazards such as pollution and improper waste management (ref 1,2). The initiative involved multiple stakeholders, including the local government, community leaders, and private sector actors. The Gerencia de Espacio Público y Movilidad led the revitalization of three parks, focusing on cleaning up waste, maintaining green areas, and upgrading recreational facilities. Parallelly, Veolia, a private sector partner, worked with community leaders to recover neglected areas that were previously used for dumping mixed waste and beutify the environment. These efforts included planting activities, installation of solar lamps, and community education on proper waste disposal practices​ (ref 1,2). The revitalization of the parks benefited over 400 families, providing them with safe and clean recreational spaces. The project also successfully eliminated a significant dumping site, reducing pollution and enhancing the neighborhood's aesthetic appeal. Moreover, the initiative fostered a stronger sense of community ownership and responsibility towards maintaining the improved environment​ (ref 1,2).

Torslanda School is a newly built elementary school (years 0-6) where the schoolyard includes innovative ways to manage rainwater. The school was initially part of the Rain Gothenburg project, which aims to make the city, and this school, the best in the world when it rains. It was also a pilot project within the city's "equal building" initiative, aiming to make indoor and outdoor environments accessible and attractive to everyone regardless of gender identity, functional diversity or age [Ref. 1]. The main element of the schoolyard is a "river" to which water will be led when it rains, combining stormwater management with opportunities for play and education. The system will retain about 310 m3 of water and treat it before releasing it to a recipient. The river will be used to teach the children about climate, ecology, biodiversity and the water cycle. The river and schoolyard are connected to a natural wetland [Ref. 3, 4]. The school is run by the City of Gothenburg, who initiated the project, employing an architecture firm and a construction company to design and build the school and schoolyard [Ref. 3-5].

Alexandria is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable cities, facing serious environmental challenges that threaten its landscape, culture, and livability. The city is grappling with rising sea levels, pollution, extreme fluctuations in temperature, and the intensifying urban heat island effect, all of which are worsened by climate change. The past decade has seen a steady decline in Alexandria’s parks and green areas, a trend that has raised significant concerns among environmentalists and the public. The shrinking green spaces are largely due to rapid urban expansion and the development of commercial projects, which are gradually pushing Alexandria's environmental balance and cultural heritage to the edge.
In recognition of these pressing issues, Egypt launched the "100 Million Trees Initiative" in 2022 as part of its Egypt Vision 2030, a national plan for sustainable development. The initiative aims to increase the per capita share of green space throughout the country, with objectives that include improving air quality, enhancing public health, countering the urban heat island effect, and reducing greenhouse gases. The initiative is also focused on improving the beauty and cultural value of Egypt's urban areas, aligning with broader goals to build sustainable and climate-resilient cities. Alexandria, being a coastal city that is both environmentally sensitive and culturally significant, has been a focal point of these efforts.
As part of this national campaign, the Governor of Alexandria was tasked with overseeing the enhancement and expansion of green spaces across the city, focusing on both the aesthetics and cultural aspects of the urban landscape. In 2023, these efforts took root in the Al-Muntazah 2 neighborhood, where 596 trees were planted as a contribution to the 100 Million Trees Initiative. This project included the Al-Samad Preparatory and Secondary Schools campus as one of its primary planting sites. (1-5)

Herboristerie Créole, established in 2012 in Martinique by Séverine and Rémi Asensio, is a private farm and business focused on cultivating aromatic and medicinal plants, managing all stages of production, processing, and marketing. Situated in the commune of Gros-Morne, the farm draws on traditional Creole knowledge to produce medicinal plants and Creole cosmetics. Spanning 1.8 hectares, it is organized as a forest garden, featuring a diverse ecosystem that includes aromatic and medicinal plants, spices, fruit trees, and tropical flowers. Agroecological practices are central to its operation, with natural mulching from coconuts and green waste, and composting from the forest garden enriching the soil.
In addition, Herboristerie Créole operates a certified organic herbal dispensary in Saint Joseph, specializing in medicinal plants. The dispensary merges ancestral knowledge from the local "Rimèd Razié" tradition—a practice involving the use of native plants and natural remedies for healing, passed down through generations—with modern pharmaceutical standards. It produces a range of products, including herbal teas, infusions, spices, oils, and capsules for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use.
The farm is instrumental in preserving and passing on ancestral knowledge, which was once banned during the period of slavery, while ensuring that its artisanal products comply with dosage and safety regulations. Located at the foot of the Carbet peaks, the farm holds the Biological Farming (AB) label and follows agroecological methods through its "Jardin Créole" approach. It avoids the use of phytosanitary products, aims for zero waste, and implements measures to preserve biodiversity. (ref. 1, 2, 5, 6)

The Alexandria Governorate is especially susceptible to the impacts of climate change, a vulnerability exacerbated by its dense coastal communities and rapidly growing population (2). Both demographic shifts and urban development intensify how climate phenomena affect the people and infrastructure of Alexandria (1). Buildings, roads, and other concrete structures absorb and release solar heat, significantly contributing to the urban heat island effect, which is causing temperatures in the city to rise faster than in less developed areas (1). Despite Alexandria’s growing need for cooling green spaces, they currently make up only 0.25 percent of the total area within the Governorate, highlighting an urgent need for environmental interventions (3-6).
In response, Ahmed Gaber, chairman of the Alexandria Water Company, initiated a public awareness campaign in 2023 focused on the numerous benefits of planting green roofs (3-6). Green roofs serve multiple purposes: they extend the longevity of buildings, lower energy consumption, improve air quality, increase biodiversity, manage rainwater runoff, and mitigate the urban heat island effect (3). Furthermore, Gaber has emphasized the visual appeal of eco-friendly roofs, noting that green roofs offer an aesthetically pleasing option that enhances the urban landscape while serving critical environmental functions (4).
This initiative by the Alexandria Water Company marks a pioneering step among governmental organizations in the region, as they lead efforts to address climate and environmental challenges actively. The company has begun planting green roofs across its facilities, including the new Al-Mashishya water station, where green spaces atop buildings are set to bring lasting environmental benefits to Alexandria. Through these efforts, the Alexandria Water Company is working to set an example for public and private sectors alike (3-6).

The City of Mobile has developed and implemented a Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) as required by the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (Ref 1). Flooding is a significant issue in Mobile, occurring frequently throughout the town (Ref 3). The SWMP aims to protect water quality and prevent harmful pollutants in stormwater runoff from entering the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) area (Ref 1). Stormwater runoff refers to rainfall that does not seep into the ground but instead flows over yards, streets, parking lots, and buildings, eventually entering the storm sewer system, which directs it into creeks, rivers, bays, and the Gulf of Mexico (Ref 1). Stormwater can collect pollutants such as trash, debris, sediment, heavy metals, oils, and hazardous household materials. Additionally, development increases impervious surfaces, leading to more stormwater runoff (Ref 2).