As the largest emerging economy, China has experienced large-scale rapid urbanization, resulting in the loss of nearly 53% of its wetlands over the past two decades, which may have contributed to exacerbating flood risks under climate change [1,2]. In 2014, the “Sponge City” initiative was launched in China to tackle urban flood issues [3]. As part of the program, Shanghai updated its urban planning in July 2024 to cover 40% of the city into a Sponge mode by 2025 and 80% by 2030 [4]. Over the past decade, the Sponge City initiative has faced technical, financial, and regulatory challenges, limiting its effectiveness and broader implementation [5]. An over-reliance on costly engineering solutions, such as permeable pavements and drainage systems which comprise over 70% of Sponge City measures, limits the adoption of wetland restoration, thereby overlooking benefits for ecological stability and climate adaptation [4,6,7].

Engineering infrastructures can quickly mitigate stormwater issues, however, they often lack broader ecological benefits provided by wetlands. Wetlands can increase water pollutant removal up to 28% while decrease costs by 37% compared to traditional stormwater infrastructure [8]. Wetlands maintain biodiversity and carbon sequestration, as well as long-term climate resilience which cannot be matched by engineering infrastructures [9]. In Sanya, the pilot city for urban ecological restoration in China, wetlands, terraced embankments, and rice paddies replaced concrete flood barriers, enhancing flood resilience while also increasing biodiversity and recreational spaces [10]. Singapore ABC Waters Program integrates bioretention basins and constructed wetlands into urban water management systems [11]. Both projects illustrate how natural systems can be implemented to provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions to urban water challenges.

Limited space, high costs and complexities of integrating natural solutions in rapidly urbanizing areas present formidable hurdles to balance engineering infrastructures with wetland restoration in China and rest of the world [12]. To address these challenges, it will be more effective to integrate wetland restoration into early phases of urban planning. Collaborative efforts among urban planners, engineers and ecologists can be encouraged through the establishment of interdisciplinary platforms, cross-departmental project teams, policy dialogues and joint research initiatives. Greater focus on natural solutions like wetland restoration into urban planning would not only strengthen water management but also enhance long-term urban resilience under climate change.