Polish urban climate adaptation initiatives

Discussions regarding urban planning and climate resilience in Poland have moved from high-level strategic planning to local implementation.

At the VII Congress of Polish Urbanism in Gliwice, architects, scientists, and government officials gathered to discuss adapting cities to climate change, economic shifts, and housing needs. The event aimed to adopt the ‘Urbanistyka na rozdrożu’ (Urbanism at a Crossroads) declaration. Experts at the congress, including Dorota Zawadzka-Stępniak of the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management, emphasized the necessity of financing green-blue infrastructure and water retention to combat heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall.

Following these discussions, individual municipalities have begun specific adaptation measures. Świnoujście launched public consultations for its Municipal Adaptation Plan to address heatwaves and water shortages, supported by European infrastructure and climate funds. Meanwhile, in Spytkowice, local authorities are discussing drought mitigation strategies, including the construction of a new reservoir, pipeline modernization, and the establishment of monitored water intake points for residents.