Towards a climate neutral EU:
efficient allocation of EU funds

Narrative

The ADAPTCITY project has laid the foundations for taking actions to adapt to climate change in Warsaw, and has radiated to other large metropolises in our country. It leaves behind very important results, such as: a strategy for adaptation to climate change in the capital city of Warsaw until 2030, with a perspective until 2050; a set of nearly 100 generally available maps that can be used by both municipal services and Warsaw residents to deepen their knowledge of the nature of climate change, both now and up to the end of the 21st century; heightened interest in the topic of climate change among both residents and municipal services; willingness to deepen knowledge and cultivation of a sense of need to adapt to the effects of climate change; and a unique methodology for preparing climate change adaptation strategies alongside in-depth participation techniques used during its preparation. The accumulated capital of knowledge and experience has begun to bear fruit in the form of past and ongoing activities. In order to implement climate protection and adaptation projects, the City of Warsaw has established a special unit, the Office for Air Protection and Climate Policy. Work initiated by the city authorities on a new study of conditions and directions of spatial development of the Capital City of Warsaw clearly takes into account the results of the ADAPTCITY project. On the basis of this strategy and emerging executive programmes, the city is preparing projects in the field of adaptation with financial support from EU structural funds with an eye to the future (i.e., for the years 2021-2027). The young urban community, taking on the form of a Climate Strike, is collecting signatures to organise a Citizens' Climate Panel in Warsaw at the office of the City President. Enhanced cooperation within the Union of the Polish Metropolises has established a need to maintain the functioning of the Metropolis Climate Representatives Commission in order to continue the exchange of experience between Poland's largest cities and to share good examples. The project was implemented by the Institute for Sustainable Development Foundation, the Union of Polish Metropolises (UMP), the City of Warsaw, and Verband Region Stuttgart

Financial data

More than EUR 1.5 million was spent, with 50% of input from the European Commission LIFE financial instrument and 45% of input from the of Polish National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.

Recommendations

Each municipality, or any other local or regional authority, should try to prepare an adaptation strategy for its territory. This unique method for document preparation brings plenty of knowledge that supports effective implementation of climate change adaptation measures. The adaptation strategy can be merged with preparation of the mitigation plan in the form of a Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP), as advised by the Convenant of Mayors.

Information sources

Other info

www.adaptcity.pl http://adaptcity.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/strategia_2030-ENG.pdf

http://adaptcity.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Laymans-EN.pdf

http://adaptcity.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/After-Life-Communication-Plan_EN.pdf