The city of Montreal announced several initiatives in its territory aimed at accelerating its adaptation to climate change.

Between 2024 and 2025, the office of the mayor of the largest city in Quebec plans to develop thirty sponge parks and adapt 400 sponge sidewalks.

The function of these facilities will be to mitigate the consequences of heavy rainfall, which has become more frequent due to climate change.

Montreal stated in a press release that these surface works, complementing underground works, will absorb part of the quantity of water that flows into sewers during heavy rainfall periods.

The goal is to develop at least 8,500 square meters of infrastructure for green street drainage and retain the equivalent of three Olympic swimming pools.

Unlike underground facilities, these surface urban modifications are an effective and more economical way to reduce the impacts of heavy rainfall, according to the office of the mayor of Montreal.

Depending on the methods used, the impact of heavy rainfall will be reduced either by redirecting water towards the river, completely retaining it until the sewer system is available, or gradually absorbing it into the soil. The city stated that these facilities include, for example, green spaces or even multifunctional tanks.

Funding for these new projects will be ensured under an agreement worth $117 million signed with the Government of Quebec as part of the green economy plan.

As of 2022, the city of Montreal has already created 7 sponge gardens and 800 sponge sidewalks.

Montreal mentioned in its press release a study conducted by the Canadian Climate Institute, indicating that every dollar invested in climate adaptation measures provides between $13 and $15 in return.