Krakow Climate Panel

@Biuro Stowarzyszenia Metropolia Krakowska

The Krakow Climate Panel (Poland) was dedicated to climate change and achieving climate neutrality in the city. Its aim was to answer the question: How can the City of Krakow and its inhabitants reduce energy consumption and increase the use of renewable energy? The panel - a form of deliberative democracy - was a way of having a randomly selected group of citizens (reflecting the general population) be in charge of making important decisions about a given issue, taking into account the common good. The panel was active in 2021 and included 60 panelists. Several months of work by the panel resulted in over 100 recommendations, 35 of which were developed and put to a vote. As many as 32 recommendations received the approval of at least 80% of voters, which means that they are binding for the Mayor of Krakow. As such, the City undertook their implementation. One key recommendation was to prepare a Climate Strategy for Krakow by the end of 2022. It is to present a plan for reaching climate neutrality, assuming at least a 30% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to 2018, at least an 80% reduction by 2040, and reaching climate neutrality no later than 2050.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Agreement-based or cooperative instrument›Public-private community-based agreement

Challenges addressed

Water management (e.g. reuse)
Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Watershed restoration/water quality
Flood risk: pluvial and fluvial / soil permeability
Reconnection to the biosphere / environmental education
Human health, comfort and well-being

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

Recommendations developed by the Panel, which are binding for the Mayor of Krakow, include: (1) Development and implementation of a comprehensive education and information programme on climate and environmental challenges, aimed at the residents of Krakow; (2) Create a demonstration project showing different ways to prevent overheating in buildings, including passive methods (shading with trees or awnings); (3) Creation of a program for the development and protection of green spaces in the city, involving, among others, the expansion of green areas and revitalization of areas belonging to the City and activation of private owners and other entities to create various green spaces in Krakow; (4) Include climate issues in the update of the Study of Conditions and Directions for Spatial Development of the City of Krakow. These changes should be prepared in a participatory manner, taking into consideration the best national and foreign practices; (5) Activities to change the law on the obligations of investors in the investment process, taking into account the use of renewable energy sources and proper land management, including rainwater and biologically active spaces.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Allotments, community gardens or agricultural areas

Green areas for water management

External building greens

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Good practice characteristics:

Effective

Locally appropriate

Potential to be replicated / upscaled

Innovative

Inclusivity

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

City of Kraków

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The word "deliberation" is derived from the Latin "deliberare," which means "to consider, ponder." This is where the term deliberative, or participatory, democracy came from. It is a democratic process of decision-making as a result of equal and open debate, based on substantive argumentation and seeking to reach consensus. Citizens exchange arguments and consider various problems related to the issue of the public good. Through discussion, they can reach a consensus and decide what public policy is most appropriate by developing wise recommendations. The model is designed to respond to the needs of citizens and support democratic processes in the country.

Type of actor involvement:

Co-planning or co-design of instrument (e.g. boards, advisory role)

Expert task force consultation

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

The climate panel consisted of 60 people, all of whom are residents of Krakow. In addition, the Panel engaged experts whose task was to provide the panelists with useful knowledge on issues related to the topic of the Panel. Non-governmental organizations, informal groups and other entities whose activities are related to the subject of the Panel were also involved. Their task was to provide the panelists with their positions and comments on the subject of the Panel.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Citizen councils or consultation for co-planning (e.g. workshops, surveys)

Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory role)

Co-design of NBS, implemented by government

Targeted actors:

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Researchers, university

Citizens or community groups (CBOs), NGOs

Financing

Sources of funding:

Public local authority’s budget

Budget:

Unknown

Details about instrument financing:

The total budget is unknown, but compensation was provided for participation in the panel.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

The Panel participants presented the Deputy Mayor of Krakow with a list of 32 recommendations aimed at counteracting climate change in the coming decades. The effects of the Panel are part of the city's pro-climate policy. The recommendations developed in the course of the work cover a variety of issues related to the main topic, such as the city's climate strategy, demonstration projects, energy communities, thermo-modernisation, district heating network, municipal lighting, or educational, informational and promotional activities. Recommendations concern many areas of city functioning and are often interdisciplinary and cross-sectional, which is why many departments of the Municipal Council as well as municipal teams and units are involved in their implementation. Their scope and subject matter are diverse, therefore, each requires an individual approach and planning as well as ensuring financial resources for their implementation. At the current stage, the status of implementation of particular recommendations is very diverse: from those being implemented or planned to those not commenced. The time of their implementation also differs significantly: there are those that will be completed within the next year (e.g. the climate strategy) and those whose full implementation will take several years (e.g. creation of the Center for Climate Education and Consultancy in the form of a "zero-emission" demonstration building).

Success factors and lessons learned:

The panel was a good example of innovation to integrate citizens in decision making, collecting different stakeholders’ needs and reflecting these in decision-making processes. The panel supported Krakow's climate ambitions and gave the city authorities a strong impetus and social mandate to intensify climate action. He also recalled that climate transformation is primarily a social process, requiring broad involvement of residents, NGOs, academia and businesses.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

https://ipp.expert/krakowski-panel-klimatyczny/ https://www.krakow.pl/klimat/250303,artykul,rekomendacje.html?fbclid=IwAR3qr3yCgRzXcEjtEdJoAZOaOZo7IzjJdiZ1Dj6S5ROuK1y7AQ_A1uCnvPQ

Photos

@Biuro Stowarzyszenia Metropolia Krakowska