Morocco tests sponge pavement that stays 16°F cooler

The Indian Opinion

Reports frame the sponge pavement as a fix-all for urban heat, but the reality is trickier. The cooling effect depends on water, yet Marrakech faces water scarcity. Permeable surfaces can clog with dirt and debris, requiring regular cleaning, a cost rarely mentioned. Heavy traffic roads are unsuitable. The real test will be whether the city can maintain both the pores and the moisture needed for evaporation over the long term.