Welcome to this week’s edition of the “Our Future Water” newsletter.
This issue explores the latest innovations in urban stormwater management and the transformative role of the green economy. We examine a wide range of nature-based approaches for reducing urban runoff, and highlight how the interconnections between water, energy, and food can power sustainability and climate action. Together, these topics reveal pathways to more resilient, livable cities and sustainable resource systems.
Insights
Nature-Based Approaches to Stormwater Management: Comparing BGI, GI, WSUD, SUDS, LID, ABC Waters, and Sponge Cities
Urban areas are increasingly challenged by stormwater runoff due to impervious surfaces like roads and buildings. To address this, cities worldwide are turning to a suite of nature-based stormwater management solutions, each with its own primary focus, practices, and geographic origins.
Key approaches include Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI), Green Infrastructure (GI), Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), Low Impact Development (LID), ABC Waters, and Sponge Cities. While all aim to reduce runoff and improve water quality, they vary in emphasis — from integrating nature and water into cities (BGI, GI), to designing urban environments with the water cycle in mind (WSUD, SUDS), to transforming waterways into attractive community assets (ABC Waters), and mimicking natural hydrology at city scale (Sponge Cities). These strategies employ a variety of techniques, including rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavements, and urban wetlands.
Read the full article by Robert C. Brears to discover how BGI stands out for its flexibility, scalability, and ability to deliver multiple benefits — such as biodiversity, recreation, and community engagement — alongside stormwater management. By emphasizing adaptability and stakeholder participation, BGI helps create cities that are resilient, healthy, and vibrant.
The Green Economy and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Unlocking Pathways to Sustainability
The green economy thrives on the critical interplay between water, energy, and food, recognizing their deep interconnections and the need for integrated management. Water is essential for energy production and agriculture, while energy is needed to move, treat, and use water and to produce food. Efficient, cross-sector management is crucial to addressing climate and resource challenges.
Innovative solutions are helping reduce the energy and water footprints of these vital sectors. By improving water productivity in agriculture, promoting renewable energy use in food production, and recovering resources from wastewater, communities can reduce emissions and enhance resource security. These approaches are central to building a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
Read the full article by Robert C. Brears for a case study of East Bay Municipal Utility District in California, where food waste co-digestion in wastewater treatment generates renewable energy, offsets the plant’s power demand, and diverts thousands of tons of organic waste from landfill — demonstrating how the water-energy-food nexus can drive circularity and climate resilience.
Key Takeaways
Nature-based stormwater management solutions and integrated water-energy-food strategies are vital for resilient, sustainable cities. By leveraging the power of nature, stakeholder collaboration, and circular approaches, urban areas and utilities can unlock new opportunities for climate adaptation, economic development, and environmental stewardship.
Stay informed. Stay resilient.
📢 Coming Soon: The Circular Economy and Liveable Cities (Cambridge University Press, September 2025)
Coming soon from Cambridge University Press — “The Circular Economy and Liveable Cities,” edited by Robert C. Brears, Our Future Water. This essential guide delivers actionable strategies and best practices for implementing circular economy, climate resilience, and sustainability in urban environments, with global examples from leading cities like Tokyo, New York, and Singapore to help planners, policymakers, and researchers build liveable and sustainable cities for the future.
Stay Connected & Gain Exclusive Water Insights
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Urban Water Security, Our Future Water, Circular Water Economy, Blue-Green Infrastructure, Nature-Based Solutions, Climate Resilient Water Resources Management, Water Governance, Global Climate Solutions, Nature-Based Water Management
📚 New Book Titles on Urban Water Reuse, Circular Economy & Resilient Cities
📚 Nature-Based Solutions for a Circular Water Economy: Strategies for Sustainable Water Reuse, Recharge, and Resilience
📚 Water Sustainability through Circular Economy: Innovative Strategies for Management and Conservation
📚 Urban Climate Resilient Water Resources Management: A Practical Guide for Planners and Practitioners
📚 Explore the Full Book Collection on Circular Economy Approaches
Redesign systems for long-term sustainability with expert insights from Our Future Water and Global Climate Solutions. This collection equips professionals with practical tools to apply circular thinking across sectors, enabling efficient, low-impact transitions.
♻️ Frameworks for embedding circularity in infrastructure, systems, and business models
📊 Policy strategies for closing material loops and minimizing environmental impact
🛠️ Scalable pathways for low-carbon, regenerative transformation
Click here to explore the complete collection.
📚 Shape the Future of Sustainability: Contribute to Springer Nature’s Landmark Publications
As Editor-in-Chief, Robert C. Brears invites experts, researchers, and practitioners to contribute to impactful and forward-thinking publications from Springer Nature. These comprehensive Handbooks and Encyclopedias explore Nature-Based Solutions, sustainable resource management, ecosystem well-being, and the global energy transition.
- Palgrave Handbook of Nature-Based Solutions
- Palgrave Encyclopedia of Sustainable Resources and Ecosystem Resilience
- Palgrave Handbook of Ecosystems and Human Well-Being
- Palgrave Handbook of Energy Transition and Renewable Energy
- Palgrave Handbook of Urban Climate and Disaster Resilience
- Palgrave Handbook of Social Transformations in Science, Innovation, and Education
📚 Shape the Future of Climate Resilience: Contribute to Palgrave’s Pivot Series
As Series Editor, Robert C. Brears invites experts to contribute to Palgrave Studies in Climate Resilient Societies, a leading Pivot series (25,000–50,000 words) exploring climate resilience, policy innovation, and sustainability strategies.
📩 For more details, visit: Seeking Authors — Palgrave Studies in Climate Resilient Societies
