PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Climate change is causing more and more extreme weather events affecting metropolitan regions. The need to prepare for those events and to undertake relevant investments has become urgent. In line with the White Papers of the European Commission concerning adaptation to climate change in cities (COM/2009/0147 and COM/2013/216) adequate actions and solutions for the management of water, energy and green areas are required. The problem of adaptation is of crucial importance to local authorities. A possible way to address the problem is through a climate change adaptation city strategy.
OBJECTIVES
The main aim of the project is to reduce the negative impact of climate change on the city ecosystem of Warsaw and to use the Warsaw experience to encourage other Polish cities to undertake actions for climate change adaptation. The proposed actions include drawing up an adaptation strategy for Warsaw, which aims to prepare the city authority and citizens for dealing with climate change and implementing adaptation actions.
Specific project objectives are to:
Prepare a climate change adaptation strategy for Warsaw based on an ecosystem approach where technical and green infrastructures work together in line with EU Communication “Green Infrastructure - Enhancing Europe Green Capital” (COM/2013/0249); Encourage city administrations and their municipal service providers to implement climate change adaptation based on the Warsaw experience; Promote climate prediction maps as a tool for building climate change adaptation strategies for cities; and Raise awareness of the climate change issues among city authorities and encourage them to engage in activities on a national and European level. Expected results:
A climate map for Warsaw (including climate risk assessment for the city) and promotion of the map among citizens, business and non-governmental organisations; Social groups involved in the preparation of a climate adaptation strategy for the metropolitan area of Warsaw; Raised awareness of climate change adaptation among Polish city authorities; Warsaw city council resolutions devoted to climate change adaptation; At least two actions foreseen in the adaptation strategy should be included in the city budget; Two adaptation undertakings and at least one dedicated investment put in place during the project lifetime; At least 100 local initiatives included in the climate adaptation strategy for Warsaw; A series of local conferences and an international conference to promote the climate change adaptation measures implemented in Warsaw; A study tour to Stuttgart to allow Polish cities representatives to learn from German initiatives and solutions; Three study tours to exchange experience with other LIFE+ projects working on the issue; A manual on climate change adaptation in urban area, to be distributed among municipal authorities, social organisations and other stakeholders; At least three other cities following the Warsaw actions and preparing their own climate change strategies; and Increased involvement of Polish cities in international initiatives on climate protection and climate change adaptation, as demonstrated by at least three cities joining the EU Covenant of Mayors for climate protection and at least one Polish city joining the EU Climate-ADAPT initiative.
