URBAN FLOODS ARE NOT ACCIDENTS — THEY ARE PLANNING FAILURES: WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN BRAZILIAN CITIES

The persistent issue of urban flooding in Brazilian cities is more a consequence of flaws in the systems of urban planning instead of solely relying on extreme weather events. This study presents the first comprehensive systematic literature review on the causes of urban flooding vis a vis urban planning failures in Brazil for the years 2020 – 2025. Relevant literature was obtained through defined criteria from a few specific peer-reviewed databases and was narrowed to focus on the intersections of urban flooding, land use planning, and climate adaptation. The data suggests that the primary cause of flood risk in cities is the combination of soil sealing and strengthening urban drainage

systems with conventional gray infrastructure. This is a clear result of the disconnection between urban sprawl and the natural drainage systems. The study shows that to achieve positive and true urban resilience, there is an immediate and drastic need for greener urban infrastructure, like constructed wetlands and sustainable drainage systems, if cities are to reduce urban flooding and restore the natural water cycle in cities, thereby achieving urban sustainability, Lastly, the study shows that to achieve true urban resilience there is an immediate and drastic need for cities to adopt constructed wetlands and sustainable drainage systems to reduce urban flooding and restore the natural water cycle within cities.

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