On Thursday, 4 July, the City Council adopted the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Capital City of Warsaw until 2030 with a 2050 perspective. Counteracting increased human mortality in hot weather, reducing the city’s heat island, protecting against storms, floods and the low water level in the Vistula River are some of the key issues of the document. The city and its elements are to be prepared for bad weather conditions.
The analyses conducted from the Municipal Adaptation Plan show that Warsaw is particularly exposed to the risk of downpours and heat. The average annual temperature in the city has already exceeded 8°C, and in the central regions of the city even 10°C. The increase in temperature is caused by both the phenomenon of the so-called urban heat island and global warming.
The options for adapting the city are multi-area: awareness, greenery, heat, watt, water and infrastructure. The horizon is 2050, which will also serve as a reference point for the assessment of implemented eco-solutions. Priority is given to measures to limit heat input to buildings in summer and to maintaining indoor temperatures in cold months. It is also important to manage rainwater properly and to preserve and develop green and blue infrastructure, such as parks, forests, floodplains and ponds. Taking into account the Strategy, spatial development documents and the capital’s budget are to be prepared. The city will be an initiator of education of the inhabitants and cooperation with the world of business and science.