In Memoriam: Professor Kongjian Yu, Visionary of Nature-Based Urbanism

The CIC Climate Change Committee is deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Kongjian Yu, who was a speaker at our WS8 June webinar on Exploring the Role of Water through Nature-led Strategies and Co-design. His presentation, which showcased several of the over 1,000 projects he led across 200 cities worldwide, highlighted his visionary sponge cities approach that incorporates nature-based solutions for effective urban water management. Kongjian Yu’s profound impact on both the built and natural environment will continue to resonate, especially as communities face the growing challenges of rising water levels due to climate change. His loss is a significant one for the global landscape, urban planning and wider environmental communities.