Decentralized adaptation? Opinions of local authorities on climate change and local adaptation policies Cover Image

Zdecentralizowana adaptacja? Opinie władz lokalnych o zmianach klimatu i lokalnej polityce adaptacji do zmian klimatycznych
Decentralized adaptation? Opinions of local authorities on climate change and local adaptation policies

Author(s): Adam Gendźwiłł
Subject(s): Energy and Environmental Studies, Sociology, Environmental and Energy policy
Published by: EUROREG - Uniwersytet Warszawski, Regional Studies Association - Sekcja Polska
Keywords: climate change; adaptation; local government

Summary/Abstract: The article presents an overview of opinions on climate change and the ways of adapting to it held by representatives of Polish local authorities (political leaders and local administration representatives) in a recently conducted survey. The author briefly describes the institutional context in which the new field of local policy has emerged and local adaptation strategies are established. The empirical analyses, based on survey data, demonstrate that local authorities in many municipalities remain relatively sceptical about the human impact on climate change: 32% feel convinced by the existing evidence. The analyses also demonstrate that there is a relationship between attitudes of local authorities towards climate change and the population size of the municipalities, as well as its previous exposure to extreme weather events. The results suggest that local adaptation policies have more chance of being developed in municipalities with specialized environmental administration.

  • Issue Year: 18/2017
  • Issue No: 68
  • Page Range: 30-49
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: English, Polish