Planning for Urban Development in the Context of Climate Change. Evidence from Poland and Romania
Mateusz ILBA1, Diana-Elena ALEXANDRU*3, Vasile ZOTIC3, Artur HOŁUJ2, 3, Piotr LITYŃSKI2, Marcin SEMCZUK1, Piotr SERAFIN1
* Corresponding author
1 Kraków University of Economics, College of Public Economy and Administration, Institute of Spatial Management and Urban Studies, Department of Social-Economic Geography, Kraków, POLAND
2 Kraków University of Economics, College of Public Economy and Administration, Institute of Spatial Management and Urban Studies, Department of Spatial Management, Kraków, POLAND
3 Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, Department of Human Geography and Tourism, Centre for Research on Settlements and Urbanism, Cluj-Napoca, ROMANIA
E-mail: ilbam@uek.krakow.pl; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1005-5323
E-mail: diana.alexandru@ubbcluj.ro; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2221-9316
E-mail: vasile.zotic@ubbcluj.ro; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4489-0637
E-mail: holuja@uek.krakow.pl; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1676-8965
E-mail: litynskp@uek.krakow.pl; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1400-5545
E-mail: semczukm@uek.krakow.pl; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2327-148X
E-mail: serafinp@uek.krakow.pl; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5601-8080
Pages: 75-87. DOI: 10.24193/JSSPSI.08.CSPTER
Cite: Ilba M., Alexandru D.-E., Zotic V., Hołuj A., Lityński P., Semczuk M., Serafin P. (2022), Planning for Urban Development in the Context of Climate Change. Evidence from Poland and Romania. Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning, Special Issue 10, 75-87. DOI: 10.24193/JSSPSI.08.CSPTER
Abstract. Climate change effects are becoming increasingly noticeable especially in the dynamic and overcrowded city areas. The frequency of occurrence and ways of appearance of natural risks along with the negative effects of intensive economic activities, energy conventional production, unsustainable transportation and energy consumption determine increases in dysfunctions that must be managed by the local authorities in the long term. This study addresses climate change in relation to policy and regulatory framework for urban planning. The article portrays several climate change-related threats that usually occur in urban areas, which are emphasized in the scientific literature, but also exemplifies practical solutions formulated by planners in their strategy for sustainable urban development as counteracting the current specific threats. The selected case studies are the cities of Krakówin Poland and of Cluj-Napoca in Romania. Results of the literature review show that the main risks related to sustainability of the urban areas, as effects of the climate change and man-made actions, are correspondingly visible and addressed in the main strategic plans at the local level, adopted by the city authorities as practical measures and actions to be implemented by 2030 aiming to limit the effects of the climate changes that arise, as well as to limit the causes that generate these changes. By implementing the proposed measures and by achieving the objectives described in the presented action plans, both of the selected cities prove their engagement in the European mission of climate change adaptation and mitigation.
K e y w o r d s: climate change, urban planning, development strategy, adaptation and mitigation measures, regulatory framework, natural risks, smart and carbon-neutral city