Narrative
Because of its range, 44MPA is the only initiative in Europe in which the Ministry of the Environment supports the authorities and local administration in coordinating activities to adapt to the impacts of climate change in several dozen cities at the same time. The preparation of urban adaptation plans for the 44 cities participating in the project (as well as in Warsaw, within the separate ADAPTCITY project), will help to protect roughly 30% of Polish citizens against the effects of climate change. The project will also initiate similar activities at local level in smaller towns and communes. Urban plans to adapt to climate changes (Miejskie plany adaptacji do zmian klimatu, MPA) will be developed in cooperation between authorities, inhabitants and experts. MPA considers the local conditions and problems of cities, which differ in terms of nature and structure, as well as any unique threats and difficulties to cope with. Climate change adaptation is a new thread of policy development for states and cities, and one which should not be neglected. MPA implementation will improve the safety of city dwellers and increase protection against harmful climate change effects. What is more, MPAs will take long-term planning and the diverse needs of stakeholders and local communities into consideration. The project implements outcomes of the Strategic Adaptation Plan for sectors and areas sensitive to climate change in Poland (SPA 2020*). One of the intentions of the Ministry of the Environment within this project is to educate and improve awareness at local level, both among officials and urban communities. All 44 Municipal Plans for Adaptation were prepared by a consortium hired by the Ministry for Environment: Environment Protection Institute — i.e., the National Research Institute (the consortium leader), the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management, the National Research Institute, the Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas, ARCADES (a consulting and engineering company), as well as a subcontractor responsible for project communications, Deloitte Polska. All MPAs were prepared using the same methodology, which was outlined in the ministerial guidelines. (http://44mpa.pl/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Podrecznik-adaptacji-dla-miast.pdf).
Financial data
The project was realised by the Ministry of Environment with roughly EUR 8 million from the Technical Assistance EU Funds.
Recommendations
Positive lessons of the project: Cities and other local authorities gained expertise and a final document from the external sources that helps them to manage the climate change adaptation process; The Ministry of Environment successfully coordinated the process of climate change adaptation with guidelines, informal guidance and financial support; Municipal Plans for Adaptation are documents that successfully prepare cities for adhesion of EU funding for climate change adaptation after 2021 (the Polish programme has prepared many such funds the 2021-2027 period. Negative lessons: Municipal Plans for Adaptation are not well integrated with the plans any other local authorities and are not coordinated with many other aspects of climate policy, such as mitigation (e.g., they do not lead to the preparation of SECAPs as advised by Conventant of Mayors, or to integration with the spatial planning system); Climate change adaptation has not yet become part of local policy because the MPAs and the topics they analyse into the system of planning required from local authories has not been integrated into national law.
Information sources
http://44mpa.pl/urban-adaptation-plans/?lang=enOther info
About the project: http://44mpa.pl/adaptation-manual/?lang=en
Independent assessment of local climate policy in Poland: https://www.pine.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Implementing-the-European-Green-Deal-at-local-level-WEB.pdf
